<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia and Japan have agreed to strengthen economic, energy and defence ties to withstand the shocks of the war in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese counterpart Takaichi Sanae marked 50 years of "friendship" today with the signing of the new Joint Declaration on Economic Security and Cooperation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The agreement will build "trusted" fuel, energy, critical minerals, food and technology supply chains with the major trading partner.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/rudy-giuliani-former-new-york-mayor-and-trump-ally-fighting-for-life-in-hospital/e96f7450-15ff-44c3-8c3b-15d96eb42713" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'America's mayor' and Trump ally fights for life in hospital</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our Joint Statement on Energy Security reaffirms our commitment to navigate the current energy crisis together and maintain open trade flows of essential energy goods, including liquid fuels and gas," Albanese said at a press conference with Sanae this afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks, like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It will mean more security for farmers when they are planting their crop, and more certainty for commuters when they are filling up their car."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-and-japan-enter-new-deal-to-counteract-global-shocks/103b4168-7563-482b-8156-f98482c73d1e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes as Australia looks to shore up more fuel shipments from its allies after supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Iran. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia gets the majority of its refined fuel from Asian markets, which get their oil from the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese travelled to Malaysia and Singapore last month to secure more fuel and has now turned his sights on Japan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Australia gets some of its fuel supply from Japan, Japan receives about 40 per cent of its liquified natural gas from Australia. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia and Japan also signed agreements on critical minerals, defence and an open Indo-Pacific region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both countries have instructed their relevant ministers to find ways to strengthen their partnership. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our friendship has never been closer, and in these uncertain times, friendships matter more than ever," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-4donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/5d0eb4fe-9c97-450b-86e1-1bdb15badd54" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Iran threatens to blow up ceasefire if 'Project Freedom' enacted</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sanae, through a translator, said the meeting with Albanese was "highly productive" and would affirm their countries' relationship for the next 50 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The two countries have built a relationship as frontrunners in cooperation among like-minded countries by advancing pioneering security cooperation at a level that could be described as quasi allies," she said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sanae admitted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had created regional issues, but said the pair will work closely to strengthen their resilience.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We affirmed that Japan and Australia will closely communicate with each other in responding with a sense of urgency," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Japan is Australia's third-largest two-way trading partner and second-largest export market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under a $10 billion deal signed in April, Japan will deliver three upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy in 2029.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>