Press Releases
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
September 17, 2021
On September 17, commencing at 4:00 p.m. for approximately 10 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, 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 Equalitiese of the United Kingdom. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Motegi congratulated Secretary Truss on her appointment as the Foreign Secretary, stating the he would like to work closely with Secretary Truss, with whom Minister Motegi concluded the negotiations on the Japan-UK EPA, to further deepen the bilateral relationship. In response, Secretary Truss stated that she is willing to advance cooperation with Japan in a wide range of areas including in the economic field.
- Both ministers affirmed that they will further promote bilateral cooperation towards the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, including their security and defense cooperation, which has elevated to a new level with the UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth having made a port call in Japan. Secretary Truss mentioned the launch of a trilateral partnership among Australia, the UK, and the US (AUKUS). In response, Minister Motegi welcomed the launch of AUKUS, which aims to strengthen their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
- In addition, Minister Motegi requested that the UK lift import restrictions on Japanese food products, and Secretary Truss responded that she would like to give the idea serious consideration.
- The two ministers affirmed that they will cooperate in global issues such as climate change and response to COVID-19.