BRIDGET McKenzie, Australia’s minister for agriculture, has landed in Japan to begin a north Asia visit designed to promote trade between Australia and key trading partners in the region.

“This visit to Japan, South Korea and Vietnam is about strengthening our economic relationships and our people to people ties,” Ms McKenzie said.

“The Australian government’s role is to work collaboratively and respectfully with partner governments to facilitate mutually beneficial market access arrangements for our products and services.”

It’s then up to our businesses, Ms McKenzie said, to promote safe, high quality product in those markets and to develop “enduring commercial relationships”.

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Ms McKenzie is joined on the trip by Australian representatives from key commodity groups who are looking to promote Australia as a source of food and fibre that is second to none.

“Our first stop is Japan, a critically important market for Australia’s farmers because of our long-standing relationship which has helped Japan become our second largest agricultural export market, worth $6bn in 2018,” Ms McKenzie said.

“The Free Trade Agreements the Liberal National Government has negotiated with both Japan and the Republic of Korea give us all a strong platform to build on.

“And Prime Minister Scott Morrison was in Vietnam only days ago talking about our shared ambition to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with Vietnam this year and increased the number of working holiday maker visa places for Vietnamese nationals from 200 to 1500.”