Meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and Former UK Prime Minister May
On September 28, commencing at 4:13 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who is visiting Japan to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his most sincere condolences for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He also thanked the attendance by former Prime Minister May at the state funeral for former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo and stated that he wished to develop the diplomatic legacy inherited from former Prime Minister Abe. In response, former Prime Minister May stated that former Prime Minister Abe was a great leader, and once again expressed her deepest condolences for the passing of the former Prime Minster. She mentioned that she was able to considerably develop Japan-UK relations with former Prime Minister Abe, including through mutual visits, and that the bilateral relations would continue to grow stronger under Prime Minister Kishida.
2. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his appreciation for the dedication of former Prime Minister May, stating that Japan-UK relations are stronger than ever on the basis of the Japan-UK Joint Vision Statement announced by former Prime Minister Abe and former Prime Minister May in 2017. Former Prime Minister May expressed her intention to continue to contribute to reinforcing the bilateral relations.
3. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the two leaders shared the importance of the united response of the international community to halt Russia’s aggression at the earliest possible time. They also shared their serious concerns over unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas, and concurred to cooperate on challenges of the international community including the reform of the United Nations.
