REGISTRATION OPEN SOON | Conference 2026 in Chiba, Japan, 4-6 October 2026

Mark your calendars for 4-6 October 2026! The 63rd Annual Australia–Japan Joint Business Conference will be held in Chiba, Japan.

The 63rd Annual Joint Business Conference between the Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC) and the Japan-Australia Business Co-operation Committee (JABCC), to be held in Chiba from 4–6 October 2026, takes place against the backdrop of a dramatically transformed global landscape.

The 62nd Annual Conference in Perth was convened under the shared recognition that the world was entering an “era of confusion and upheaval.” The months since have seen a rapid acceleration of this trend. Geopolitical volatility, including conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to critical maritime corridors like the Strait of Hormuz, has roiled global energy markets, fractured supply chains, and fueled stubborn inflationary pressures.

Concurrently, governments worldwide are confronting a rising tide of political dissatisfaction, while regulators grapple with the sweeping implications of rapidly accelerating Artificial Intelligence. Economic security – which has been described as the shift in management focus from “just in time” to “just in case” – is at the forefront of the agenda for nations worldwide. In today’s climate, resilience is at a premium.

Against this turbulent backdrop, Australia and Japan stand as two nations uniquely positioned to play a stabilising, forward-looking role. Anchored by a deep commitment to international cooperation, a rules-based trading system, and shared democratic values, this partnership is built on profound mutual trust and aligned strategic interests. Together, Australia and Japan are exceptionally equipped to help shape a more resilient Indo-Pacific region.

Half a Century of Deepening Ties

The 2026 conference carries profound historical weight, marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan (the NARA Treaty). Signed in 1976, this landmark agreement established a broad and enduring framework for the bilateral relationship, formally recognising the mutual interdependence of our two nations.

Over the past five decades, the Treaty has served as the bedrock upon which a multi-layered partnership has flourished, evolving from a foundational commodities trade into a sophisticated, modern partnership spanning defence, technology, green energy, and geopolitical strategy. As we meet in Chiba, this milestone offers a timely opportunity not only to celebrate fifty years of unprecedented trust but to leverage this enduring foundation to co-author the next chapter of bilateral and regional resilience.