Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Summit Telephone Talk
February 16, 2021
On February 16, commencing at 5:45 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. SUGA Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone talk with the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Johnson expressed his sympathy for the recent earthquake damage, and Prime Minister Suga conveyed his gratitude in response. Prime Minister Suga stated that the cooperation between Japan and the UK is deepening, such as the entry into force of Japan-UK EPA and holding of the Japan-UK Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (“2 + 2”), and expressed his intention to cooperate even more closely to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as well as for the G7 and COP26, both under the presidency of the UK. In response, Prime Minister Johnson stated that he would like to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Japan and the UKI, including the response to COVID-19.
- The two leaders exchanged views on the G7 Summit Video Conference on February 19 and the G7 Summit to be held in June, and confirmed that the G7 will unite and lead the formation of a post-COVID-19 international order. Both leaders also shared the view to work together to lead the international community toward COP26, aiming to achieve “carbon neutrality” by 2050. In addition, Prime Minister Suga welcomed the UK’s request to accede to the TPP11 Agreement.
- Prime Minister Suga requested the support of the leaders of the G7, chaired by the UK, for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, while Prime Minister Johnson stated that he would fully lend his support.
- The two leaders exchanged views on the regional situation and shared their grave concern over the situation in Myanmar. They also shared concerns regarding unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Sea, including China’s Coast Guard Law, and the situation in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and confirmed to work together in this vein.