Kishida and Truss pledge to promote security and economic cooperation

New York, Sept. 20 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his British counterpart, Liz Truss, agreed on Tuesday to promote security and economic cooperation between the two countries at a time when Britain is strengthening its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two leaders, meeting in New York for their first summit since Truss took office earlier this month, shared serious concerns about attempts to forcibly change the status quo in the East China Sea and South Sea. Southern China, with apparent reference to China.

Kishida, referring to the war in Ukraine and the tensions around Taiwan, said that the security of Europe is inseparable from that of the Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders agreed to speed up work on a pact that will facilitate visits by Japan Self-Defense Force personnel and British troops to each other’s countries and on the joint development of next-generation fighter jets.

Kishida and Truss also agreed that they strongly condemn plans by separatists from four occupied Ukrainian regions to hold votes on joining Russia, as they further undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]