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Visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(Results and Outline)

2 July 2001

After concluding his visit to the United States of America, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and met Prime Minister Tony Blair on 2 July. Prime Minister Koizumi was accompanied by Deputy Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.

I. Results

  1. Prime Minister Koizumi's summit meeting and working lunch with Prime Minister Blair were held in a very friendly and congenial atmosphere, enabling the two leaders to exchange views frankly and build a personal relationship of trust.
  2. Prime Minister Koizumi explained the direction of his structural reforms and his determination to implement them. In response, Prime Minister Blair commented that he would like to see Prime Minister Koizumi's reforms, full of vision, carried out, referring to his own experiences and future approaches regarding the United Kingdom's reforms. In light of such exchange, Japan and the United Kingdom agreed to advance cooperation in the future, including exchanges of views.
  3. The two leaders exchanged their opinions on international issues, including the Kyoto Protocol, and reached a shared view to continue Japan-UK bilateral cooperation in the future.

II. Outline

Prime Minister Koizumi exchanged views with Prime Minister Blair on a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations and international issues.

1. Approach to Reform

Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the most important mission of the Koizumi Cabinet was to revive the Japanese economy, noting that he would like to learn from the United Kingdom's economic revitalization. Prime Minister Koizumi took responsibility for not partial, but total reforms, commenting that there were problems with tax appropriations in the public sector. He further vowed that he was determined to carry out bold reforms, stating his personal conviction that "there can be no growth without reform."

Prime Minister Blair noted the most difficult point regarding reforms was that it was one thing to obtain an overall agreement in principle, but quite another to reach agreement regarding particular issues. Prime Minister Blair further commented that the United Kingdom was also proceeding with public sector reforms, and that he would watch Prime Minister Koizumi's reforms with interest and would like Japan and the United Kingdom to remain in close contact.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Blair proposed holding a meeting between their respective policy and political advisors. Prime Minister Koizumi acknowledged this to be a very positive idea that he would very much like to pursue.

2. Bilateral Relations

Prime Minister Koizumi noted that Japan-UK bilateral relations were based on profoundly deep trust and that good relations among Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States were important for global peace. He expressed his gratitude regarding the visit of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince to the United Kingdom in May, and mentioned the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme as an example of success achieved between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Blair stated that he entirely shared Prime Minister Koizumi's views on the Japan-UK relationship and relations between Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom, and that he would like to enhance Japan-UK political relations as well as their economic relations.

3. International Issues

(1) Kyoto Protocol

Prime Minister Koizumi explained the content of his discussions with the United States regarding the Kyoto Protocol, noting that as the United States shared the common objectives, he had pledged to hold high-level discussions so as to work with the United States as much as possible. Prime Minister Koizumi asked for the United Kingdom's understanding of and cooperation in such efforts.

(2) Missile Defense Plan

In response to a question by Prime Minister Koizumi regarding the United Kingdom's position on the missile defense plan, Prime Minister Blair stated the United Kingdom shared the United States' recognition on the issue and considered the United States' development of measures against threats sensible. With regard to the system's deployment however, he commented that he would like the United States to proceed in full consultation with its major allies, and that on the basis of such a position, he would like to fulfill the role of a mediator between the United States and European countries.

(3) Security Council Reform

Prime Minister Blair expressed his support for Japan in becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

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