Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
June 21, 2023
On June 21, commencing at 11:31 a.m. (local time; 19:31 p.m. on June 21 JST) for about 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting London to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference, held a meeting with the Rt Hon James CLEVERLY MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Foreign Minister Hayashi paid his respect for the UK’s timely hosting of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, and stated that he would like to work with Foreign Secretary Cleverly to make Japan-UK relationship even closer based on the “Hiroshima Accord”. Foreign Secretary Cleverly expressed his appreciation for Minister Hayashi’s participation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, and stated that he would like to reinforce the bilateral relations building onto the Japan-UK summit meeting last month.
- Minister Hayashi stated that, in the field of security, he would like to continue to closely collaborate towards an early entry into force of the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), and reinforce their collaboration with allies and partners. With regard to the CPTTP, Minister Hayashi stated that he welcomes the UK’s coming accession to the CPTPP, and the two ministers had a candid discussion from a strategic perspective. The two ministers also confirmed to continue their collaboration in the field of economic security and their efforts to vitalize the people-to-people exchanges.
- With regard to the response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the two ministers concurred on the need to continue severe sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine, to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also exchanged views on the situation in East Asia, including China and North Korea, and concurred to continue to coordinate in addressing North Korea, including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, among others.