Message from Mr. Toru Suzuki, Consul-General of Japan in Perth

I, Toru Suzuki assumed the duties of the Consul-General of Japan in Perth on 18^th January.
 
This is my first time to be posted to Australia. Indeed, it is also my first time to step foot on Perth soil. I know that Japan and Australia have a very strong relationship, and with your help, I sincerely hope to be able to develop this even further.
 
With shared core values including a commitment to freedom, democracy, and the rules-based international order, Japan and Australia have come to enjoy a mutually beneficial economic relationship spanning the long post-war period. Recent years have also seen a great increase in cooperation across fields such as security, science and technology, and education.
 
Japan and Western Australia also enjoy a stable and healthy relationship, underpinned by trade in agricultural and mineral resource products such as udon noodle wheat, iron-ore and liquefied natural gas. The relationship is not limited to economic spheres, but is also very active on various levels of people to people exchange. Western Australians have a high level of interest in Japan, and the high number of people studying Japanese here is characteristic of this. Student exchange, on which sister city exchange is built, is also more popular than ever, and we are also seeing an increase in student numbers coming here for short term study. Exchange such as this which will influence our future generations, plays a crucial role in deepening mutual understanding between Japan and Western Australia.
 
In the context of this relationship, we were very happy to hear the announcement by All Nippon Airways (ANA) at the end of December last year, of the start of direct flights between Perth and Narita, Tokyo, which will certainly usher in a new era in the friendship between our countries. This will result in many more opportunities for both Japanese and Western Australians to be able to visit each other’s countries, increasing person to person exchange, creating more economic activities, and taking our mutual understanding to another level.
 
The most important mission for us here at the Consulate-General of Japan, is to provide the necessary support and information to enable Japanese residents and tourists to have a comfortable and safe time here in Perth. We will continue to do our best to provide the necessary services while listening to your valued opinions.
 
In addition, we understand that effective communication is vital to gaining your cooperation and understanding of our activities at the Consulate-General, and we will continue to proactively share information with you via tools such as our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Please don’t hesitate to give us your feedback.