Remarks by His Excellency Mr Hideaki Ueda Ambassador of Japan ...

• WA Pearling History
Of course, the history of Japan-Western Australian relations goes back even further. At the
beginning of the 20th Century, almost 4000 Japanese were involved in the pearling industry,
many of those at Broome, which at the time was the largest pearling centre in the world.
In the early 1900’s, Japanese divers, making up to fifty dives per day, risked shark attacks,
lung infections and the bends, as they carried out their dangerous and often lethal work.
Japanese divers could remain submerged at 50 to 130 feet for extended periods of time.
If the divers ascended too rapidly they could die. History tells us that scores of Japanese
divers were killed or crippled by the bends. The historic Japanese cemetery at Broome
stands as a testament to the lives lost and the sacrifice made by the many Japanese divers.
Looking back today, Broome’s pearling industry and resulting long-held historic ties to Japan,
can now be seen as the beginning of a relationship between Japan and Western Australia
that would grow on expanded trade.
• Trade Relations
Today our bilateral ties are wide ranging and indeed, I will speak later on the increased
political and security cooperation between our two nations. But trade still remains a vitally
important pillar of our partnership.
How important
Japan is still Australia’s largest trade partner. One fifth of all Australian exports go to Japan.
Japan remains the number one market for a wide range of Australian goods including coal,
liquefied natural gas (LNG), and agricultural products.
The story is no different in Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia is the
nation's No.1 export State, accounting for 32.6 per cent of Australia's total merchandise
exports. And once again, Japan is Western Australia’s largest export market. In 2005-06
Western Australia exports to Japan totalled over $A10.8 billion, which accounted for 39 per
cent of the state’s total exports.
The statistics are just as impressive from Japan’s viewpoint. Australia is the largest supplier
of strategically important goods such as coal and iron ore whose shares of Japan’s imports
are 65 and 55 per cent respectively.
Australia supplies Japan with 33 per cent of its uranium imports and 16 per cent of its LNG
imports. Australia is also the second largest supplier of cotton and the third largest supplier of
wheat to Japan.
Currently 90 per cent of Japan’s beef imports come from Australia. That is a result, not just of
the ban on US beef imports which has recently been lifted, but also a reflection of how trusted
and popular Australian beef is in Japan.
It should be acknowledged that Japanese know-how helped the Australian beef industry
develop product that was more suited to the Japanese market.
The impact of the Japanese market on the Australian resources industry, in the 40 years
since that first bulk shipment of iron, should not be underestimated or forgotten. The current
close relationship we share is the result of the wisdom and efforts of our predecessors.
Next year, Australia and Japan will celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the signing of Agreement
on Commerce between Australia and Japan, which has provided a legal framework to support
the stable bilateral economic relations.
This is a perfect opportunity for us not only to reflect on our paths in the past but to look
ahead and consider the future direction for us to take.
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