Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
June 29, 2021
On June 29, commencing at 3:00 p.m. (local time) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Italy to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ and Development Ministers’ Meetings, held a Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State of the United Kingdom. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Motegi stated that he was pleased to meet with Foreign Secretary Raab again following the Ninth Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in May and that he would like to exchange views with Foreing Secreary Raab on global issues to maximize synergy between G7 and G20 outcomes, taking into consideration the G20 Summit at the end of October and the next G7 Foreign Minister’s Meeting. Foreign Secretary Raab responded that he would like to further enhance the Japan-UK cooperation in international fora such as G7, G20 and COP26.
- The two ministers confirmed the importance of connecting the G7 outcomes to G20 to address challenges such as “build back better” from the COVID-19 and climate change.
- The two ministers exchanged their views on the bilateral security and defence cooperation, future collaboration with the NATO, and the procedures of the UK’s accession to the TPP11 Agreement.
- Minister Motegi requested cooperation for the UK’s lifting of import restrictions on Japanese food products. Foreign Secretary Raab responded that he would like to give the idea serious consideration.