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Suga, Morrison discuss free and open Indo-Pacific

Nov 17, 2020 (NHK) - Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has conveyed to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hope for a stronger bilateral partnership to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Morrison arrived in Japan on Tuesday for a two-day stay. He met Suga at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

The summit was Suga's first with a visiting foreign leader since he assumed Japan's premiership in September.

Suga described Japan and Australia as special partners that share basic values and strategic interests, and noted the growing importance of their partnership.

He expressed hope to discuss cooperation in areas of national security and the economy to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Morrison said he would like to call Suga "Yoshi," and asked Suga to call him "ScoMo."

He said the two countries share a special responsibility as beneficiaries of liberty and democracy. He added that he's pleased that they have pursued liberty, built a market-centered economy and long maintained good relations with each other.

The two leaders were expected to discuss an agreement regarding joint exercises between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military, and exchange views on coronavirus measures and climate change.

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[updated 20:40 p.m.] Typhoon No. 6 is disrupting transportation across Japan on June 2nd as it moves north past southern Kyushu after lashing Okinawa and Amami, with airlines canceling hundreds of flights, rail operators announcing service suspensions, and highway authorities warning of possible road closures as heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas spread from western Japan toward the Kansai, Tokai and Kanto regions. The storm is expected to make its closest approach to the Kansai region from the night of June 2nd through the morning of June 3rd before continuing northeast along Japan's Pacific coast.

[updated 17:17 p.m.] A Level 4 Flood Danger Warning has been issued for the Hiroto River and Sakatani River in Miyazaki Prefecture after water levels reached the flood danger threshold, raising concerns over possible flooding caused by levee failures or river overflows.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 1st, urging Iran to demonstrate maximum flexibility in its ongoing discussions with the United States and expressing hope that an agreement on the nuclear issue can be reached as soon as possible.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi strongly rejected accusations that Japan is embracing "new militarism," describing such claims as false while delivering a speech at a major regional security conference in Singapore on May 31st.

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