Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Courtesy Call on Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary SATO by the UK members of Japan-UK 21st Century Group
On March 12, commencing at 3:15 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. SATO Kei, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, received a courtesy call from the Rt Hon the Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (the Co-Chair of the UK side of Japan-UK 21st Century Group), Mr. KIHARA Seiji, member of the House of Representatives (the Co-Chair of the Japanese side of Japan-UK 21st Century Group), and the UK members of Japan-UK 21st Century Group. The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary SATO welcomed the UK members of the Japan-UK 21st Century Group’s visit to Japan and expressed his expectations for lively discussions and valuable recommendations from the 42nd Joint Meeting of the Group which was to commence from the following day. He also noted the importance of concrete progress in Japan-UK cooperation as an “Enhanced Global Strategic Partner” that share fundamental values, at a time when the international situation remains unstable, including the continued tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary SATO also expressed his intention to elevate Japan-UK cooperation to new heights, building on the visit of The Rt Hon Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland visit to Japan in January of this year.
- In response, the Co-Chairs of the both countries stated that they were encouraged by concrete and steady progress being made in areas covered by the recommendations of the previous meetings, including through the visit of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 25 to Japan last summer, and the follow-up to the first Japan-UK Economic 2+2 held in March last year, and expressed their intention to engage in in-depth discussions and fruitful exchanges of views to deliver recommendations which would serve as a guidepost for both governments.
(Reference) Japan-UK 21st Century Group
The Japan-UK 21st Century Group was established in 1985 as a council of eminent persons to discuss cooperation between Japan and the UK, based on an understanding between Mr. NAKASONE Yasuhiro, the then Prime Minister of Japan, and Ms. Margaret Thatcher, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A joint meeting attended by high-level representatives from political, business, and academic communities and others from both countries is held once a year, taking place alternately in Japan and the UK.