Japan's Motegi says Japan, Australia have special, strategic partnership

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne poses next to her Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi before their luncheon meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2020. Franck Robichon/Pool via REUTERS

Japan and Australia have a special, strategic partnership and the cooperation possibilities are great, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Wednesday at the start of a meeting with his Australian counterpart.

Motegi's meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne took place a day after four-way Quad between the foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India in which U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for deeper cooperation with Asian allies as a bulwark against China's growing regional influence.

Motegi gave no further details.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attend the Quad ministerial meeting in Tokyo, Japan October 6, 2020. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS

Payne on Tuesday met separately with Pompeo and the two discussed their shared concerns regarding China's activities in the Indo-Pacific.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attend a meeting in Tokyo, Japan October 6, 2020. Charly Triballeau/Pool via REUTERS

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attend a meeting in Tokyo, Japan October 6, 2020. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi gestures towards Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne before their luncheon meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2020. Franck Robichon/Pool via REUTERS