Japan-UK Summit Meeting and Working Dinner (Summary)

 

On January 31, commencing at 7:45 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with The Rt Hon Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who was paying a visit to Japan. Following the meeting, the two leaders attended a working dinner and gave a joint press announcement. Taking this opportunity, Joint Statement on “Japan-UK Strategic Cyber Partnership” was issued. The overview of the meeting, the working dinner and the announcement is as follows:

 

1.    Opening Remarks

     At the outset, Prime Minister TAKAICHI welcomed Prime Minister Starmer’s first visit to Japan, and referring to the concrete cooperation in areas of security and economy, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), stated that cooperation between Japan and the UK, as an “Enhanced Global Strategic Partner”, symbolizes the inseparability of the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. In response, Prime Minister Starmer stated that the cooperation between the two countries has progressed remarkably in all fields, and that he would like to work closely with Prime Minister TAKAICHI to further strengthen their bilateral relations. Prime Minister Starmer also invited Prime Minister TAKAICHI to Chequers, (the official country residence of the U.K. Prime Minister). 

 

2.     Bilateral Relations

(1) Based on the steady progress of cooperation between Japan and the UK, the two leaders concurred on elevating Japan-UK cooperation to new heights. In particular, we concurred to deepen cooperation across a broad range of areas, based on the industrial strategy partnership and the economic security partnership. 

(2) The two leaders concurred on upgrading Japan-UK cooperation on cyber security into a “Strategic Cyber Partnership”, and shared the view to further strengthen cooperation. 

(3) The two leaders concurred on accelerating the joint development of the next-generation fighter aircraft, under the GCAP. The two leaders also concurred on holding a Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (“2+2”) within this year.

(4) Amid growing international concerns over disruption of critical minerals, the two leaders shared the view that it is imperative to collaborate through the Economic Security Partnership to strengthen the critical minerals supply chains and to work together across like-minded countries as a whole.

(5) The two leaders confirmed that science and technology is another promising area of cooperation for Japan and the UK and concurred on holding the Japan-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation for the first time in three years, and decided to establish a new space consultation. The two leaders also concurred to strengthen partnership on energy and decarbonization such as offshore wind and nuclear, and confirmed their intention to promote joint research and development on Beyond 5G/6G based on the Japan-UK Digital Partnership.   

 

3.    Regional Issues

(1) The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific including China and North Korea, and confirmed their intention to strengthen the Japan-UK cooperation towards realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

(2) The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and shared the view that they would continue to closely cooperate with each other for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine while promoting assistance to Ukraine.  

(3) The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, sharing the importance of the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza as soon as possible, and shared their commitment to a two-state solution.

(4) The two leaders shared a recognition on the importance of an international order based on the rule of law and concurred on further strengthening cooperation in the international arena.