Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Foreign Minister Hayashi’s Speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)
June 21, 2023
On June 21, commencing at 5:00 p.m. (local time; 1:00 a.m. on June 22 JST) for about 60 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting London to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference, delivered a speech entitled “Japanese Diplomacy at a Turning Point in History and the Future of Japan-UK Partnership” (English (PDF)
/ Japanese (PDF)) at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). The overview of the speech is as follows.
- Foreign Minister Hayashi stressed that we are facing a turning point in history in an increasingly severe international security environment, and that what is required in mapping out a vision for the new era is to maintain and reinforce the international order based on the rule of law, and tackle the challenges of the international community including those faced by developing countries, toward the shared goal of leading the world to cooperation, not to division and confrontation.
- In addition, Minister Hayashi emphasized that the UK is an indispensable partner for Japan in jointly shaping the new era, and raised (1) Shaping the New Era, (2) Building Joint Capabilities, (3)Inspiring Each Other for Sustainability and Prosperity, as guiding principles for Japan-UK cooperation, which flows through their cooperation under the “Hiroshima Accord” (link).
- Ministers Hayashi furthermore stated how Japan and the UK will, under these guiding principles, address the strategic challenges of today, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and expressed his determination to take the lead in championing the free and open international order based on the rule of law and to engage in diplomacy with eyes set on the new era.