Anthony Albanese and Japanese prime minister cuddle up to koalas during Perth visit

Anthony Albanese has given Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida a uniquely Australian welcome after the pair held koalas during his visit to the country.

The Australian Prime Minister and his Japanese counterpart cuddled with the native animals on Saturday while visiting Kings Park, in Perth.

It was a light-hearted break from an otherwise serious visit by the Japanese Prime Minister who had flown in for the annual Australian-Japan leaders’ meeting.

The two countries have agreed to increase Japan’s access to hydrogen, LNG and minerals to improve energy security, while jointly aiming for net zero.

The two countries will also seek to help other countries in the Indo-Pacific in their efforts to combat climate change.

As part of an updated security deal aimed at sending a message to China, Japanese troops will train in the Top End with their Australian counterparts.

At a press conference on Saturday, Mr. Albanian began addressing the urgency caused by the widespread flooding that ravaged the east coast and flooded regional cities.

The Australian Prime Minister and his Japanese colleague hugged the native animals during a visit to Kings Park, in Perth, on Saturday (pictured, Mr Kishida holding a baby wallaby)

“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the five people who died in flooding in Victoria and New South Wales,” he said.

He said additional funds would be made available for the rescue efforts, while financial support would be offered to families affected by the wild weather.

“From tonight, three helicopters will be on standby for nighttime search and rescue in New South Wales and will assist a further 150 Australian armed forces,” Mr Albanese said.

‘A hundred of them in northern New South Wales and 50 on standby in the Hunter. Three hundred and fifty ADF employees are now on site to assist in Victoria.

Grants of up to $25,000 will be available in 17 local government areas, including a $2,500 upfront payment.

Mr Kishida’s visit to Australia is the first by a Japanese Prime Minister since Shinzo Abe in 2018.

He was ceremoniously welcomed at the start of his visit to the capital of Western Australia.

The pair held talks on defense, energy deals and climate change amid China’s push for greater influence in the Asia-Pacific region

Political leaders also signed a security cooperation agreement, updating a 2007 pact to respond to a changed regional security environment

He seemed to be all smiles with Mr. Albanian as the pair walked together and posed for photos with the koalas and wallabies.

Mr. Albanian and Mr. Kishida later signed a security cooperation agreement, updating a 2007 pact to respond to a changed regional security environment.

“This landmark statement sends a strong signal to the region of our strategic alignment,” said Mr. Albanese.

Under the accord, the two countries agreed that armed forces would train together in Northern Australia and “expand and strengthen defense and intelligence-sharing cooperation.”

Without naming China or North Korea, Mr Kishida said the agreement was a response to an “ever tougher strategic environment.”

Mr Kishida said the two countries are facing an “increasingly strict strategic environment”.

“We agreed that our special strategic partnership has been taken to a new and higher level,” he said.

Perth was chosen as the stage for the meeting to demonstrate Western Australia’s importance in meeting Japan’s energy needs, including renewable energy

Neither Australia nor Japan has the armies of foreign intelligence and foreign informants necessary to play in the major leagues of global espionage.

Before Saturday’s talks, Alex Bristow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute described the mutual agreement as “hugely important.”

“It makes operations much smoother and it is important that both Australia and Japan are alliance partners of the US, increasing interoperability,” said Dr Bristow.

The summit is the fourth for the leaders since Mr Albanian took office in May.

Mr Albanian and Mr Kishida would also discuss climate change and show support for a regional transition to net zero carbon emissions, including boosting investment in clean energy technologies.

Australia is a major supplier of iron ore, coal and gas to Japan.

Perth was chosen as the stage for the meeting to demonstrate Western Australia’s importance in meeting Japan’s energy needs, including renewable energy.

Under the accord, the two countries agreed that armed forces would train together in Northern Australia and “expand and strengthen defense and intelligence-sharing cooperation.”

The state is also a major source of beef and wheat for Japan.

Canberra and Tokyo recently strengthened security ties in response to China’s growing military strength in the region.

In May, Mr Kishida and Mr Albanese pledged to work on a new bilateral declaration on security cooperation.

A previous joint statement outlined security cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism and North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs.

The two countries elevated their relationship to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ in 2014.