Visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged Thurday that Canberra will continue to be a "reliable supplier of energy" to Japan, while expressing her condolences over the March 11 disaster to Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
Gillard will become the first foreign leader to visit the quake-tsunami area.
"We were pleased to support you in the immediate aftermath of the crisis and we intend to stay true friends as Japan rebuilds and recovers," Gillard said during a joint news conference with Kan at the prime minister's office.