Courtesy call on Prime Minister Naoto Kan by the British members of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group

October 22, 2010
Japanese

(Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

Prime Minister Naoto Kan received a courtesy call from the visiting British members of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group on October 22 (Fri) from 11:40 a.m. to noon. An overview of their discussion is as follows:

At the beginning, Prime Minster Kan extended a warm welcome to the members of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group and stated that he had visited the UK in June last year, where he had learnt a great deal about its politics and parliamentary system, which provided a helpful perspective when the DPJ government was formed later in the year. He also expressed his pleasure at being able to meet once more Lord Cunningham of Felling, Member of the House of Lords and the UK chair of this Group, whom he had previously met in the UK.
In response, Lord Cunningham of Felling thanked the Prime Minister for his time during his busy schedule. He stated that the UK Group was comprised of Members of Parliament from the three major parties and that he hoped to further strengthen relations between British and Japanese Members of Parliament. He also remarked that there were many similarities between Japan and the UK and stressed the importance of concerted efforts by the two countries in tackling international challenges in the political and economic arenas.
Prime Minster Kan stated that the Japanese Group also consisted of parliamentarians from all parties. In addition, he expressed his respect for the Group’s contribution in the past and voiced his hope that the Group would continue to play an active role in the future.
A member of the UK Group thanked the Prime Minster for the fact that the number of British participants of the JET Programme had increased last year despite Japan’s harsh economic circumstances. In response, Prime Minister Kan declared that the UK had long been an ally of Japan and that the visit by young British people to Japan was most welcome.
Finally, Prime Minster Kan expressed his hope that the members of the Group would maintain their commitment to the further development of our two countries’ relations in the future.

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