Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-U.K. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
On May 21, commencing at 11:25 a.m., local time, (11:25 p.m. on May 21, Japan time) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was visiting Buenos Aires to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held a foreign ministers’ meeting with the Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Bilateral relations
Minister Kono stated that as confirmed by the leaders of both countries during Prime Minister May’s visit to Japan in August last year, in order to elevate bilateral relations to the next stage, Japan would like to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific Region, based on the outcomes of the Japan-U.K. Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) in December last year. In response, Secretary Johnson stated that the four ministers had had a highly meaningful discussion in the “2+2” meeting in December last year and stated that he would like to further strengthen Japan-U.K. cooperative relations.
2. Iran
The two ministers exchanged views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and confirmed that they would continue to work closely together to stabilize the regional affairs.
3. North Korea
Minister Kono explained Japan’s fundamental position on North Korea issues, including the dismantlement of its weapons of mass destruction and of ballistic missiles, and the two ministers shared the view that they maintain pressure of the international community and continue to work closely together.
4. Regional affairs
The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar and other regional affairs, and shared the view on Japan-U.K. cooperation.