On 3rd April 2014, Prime Minister Najib and Prime Minister Abbott of Australia visited the Pearce Air Base near Perth Australia and met the multinational SAR teams, including the Japanese team.  Prime Minister Najib expressed his appreciation for the Japanese support, citing his recent telephone conversation with Prime Minister Abe of Japan, and commended the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between Japan and Malaysia.  Prime Minister Abbott also lauded the strengthened defense cooperation between Japan and Australia.