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The Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson has taken the first step in establishing and building ties with the new Japanese Government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

 

Mr Henderson paid a courtesy call to the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr Tetsuro Fukuyama in Tokyo today.

 

Mr Henderson is the first head of an Australian state or Territory to meet a State Secretary of Foreign Affairs since the Democratic Party of Japan won the August election.

 

Mr Fukuyama is the author of the new Japanese Government’s climate change policy aimed at a 25% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.

 

“I had a very productive meeting with Mr Fukuyama where I promoted the NT’s LNG industry as a way to help meet that target,” Mr Henderson said.

 

“I also outlined the opportunities for Japanese universities and companies to partner with commercial companies in the Territory and the Charles Darwin University on researching and developing remote renewable power generation opportunities.

 

“I believe the NT can become a world leader in this area.

 

“We have many isolated Indigenous communities powered by diesel generators. Powering these communities with biodiesel or solar power would give the Territory the opportunity to have stand-alone renewable power generation in remote communities.

 

“If we can make the renewable power reliable and sustainable in those communities, then we can commercialise and market that sustainability around the world.

 

“Mr Fukuyama was very receptive to this idea and I’m pleased he has accepted my invitation to come to the Territory.”  

 

Mr Henderson’s meeting with Mr Fukuyama follows talks with Japan’s largest resource body JOGMEC, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between INPEX and the Larrakia Development Corporation and meetings with Darwin LNG customers Tokyo Gas and the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

 

 

Media contact: Andrea Adlam 0401 119467

Related files:
Henderson 051109 Foreign Affairs.pdf ( 308.03 kb )