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What is the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange?
The 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange commemorates the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1976 Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan, also known in Australia as the NARA Treaty (Nippon-Australia Relations Agreement). The Basic Treaty will strengthen and diversify Australia-Japan relations on matters of mutual interest in the political, economic, trade, commercial, social, cultural and other fields.
The Year of Exchange was proposed by the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Koizumi during Mr Howard's visit to Tokyo in July 2003. The aim of the year is to promote friendship, deeper mutual understanding and cooperation between Australia and Japan, in the spirit of the Basic Treaty, through bilateral exchanges, collaborative activities and events in the fields of politics, business, the arts and culture, education, science and technology, sport and tourism. These events will take place in both Australia and Japan throughout 2006.
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