Press Releases
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
November 24, 2021
On November 24, commencing at 5 p.m. for 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Minister for Women and Equalities of the United Kingdom. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his intention to work closely with Secretary Truss to further strengthen Japan-UK relations and stated that Japan intends to coordinate closely with the United Kingdom, as a global strategic partner, including cooperation in international fora and responses to regional affairs. In response, Secretary Truss congratulated Minister Hayashi on his appointment as foreign minister and expressed the United Kingdom’s intention to promote further cooperation with Japan in a wide range of fields.
- Taking also into account the discussions at the Japan-UK Summit Meeting held in Glasgow on November 2, the two ministers confirmed that they would advance concrete cooperation , including security and defense cooperation, towards realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. The two ministers also held an exchange of views on matters such as the procedures for the UK’s accession to the TPP11 Agreement. In addition, Minister Hayashi requested the early lifting of import restrictions on Japanese food products based on scientific evidence.
- Minister Hayashi stated that, based on the outcomes of the negotiations at COP26, Japan will continue to strongly promote initiatives towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and lead the efforts of the international community to meet the goal of the Paris Agreement of realizing a decarbonized society. Secretary Truss welcomed Japan’s resolve announced at COP26. The two ministers confirmed that they would continue their cooperation in this area.
- In addition, both ministers confirmed that they strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. Furthermore, the two ministers exchanged views on North Korea, including North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities as well as the abductions issue.