MELBOURNE — Japan and Australia have agreed to strengthen their partnership with a particular emphasis on economic security and regional stability, following a ministerial meeting in a 2+2 format.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara met with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, in a suburb of Melbourne on 5 September.

In a joint statement, both countries pledged to strengthen their special strategic partnership.

They agreed to strengthen the bilateral dialogue on economic security, which will facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation on economic and strategic threats.

Both countries also committed to cooperate in developing plans for the evacuation of their citizens in the event of an emergency in a third country.

Japan views its relationship with Australia as a “quasi-alliance,” second only to its full-scale military alliance with the United States. Tokyo focuses on security cooperation with its Pacific neighbor.

The joint statement expressed serious concern over China’s escalating dangerous and coercive actions against the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Both Tokyo and Canberra have condemned attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion in the East China Sea and elsewhere.

Japan also welcomed Australia’s planned first participation in Orient Shield, a joint US-Japanese military exercise to be held next year.