Foreign Secretary begins a three-day visit
next week (26 September), to Japan, Republic of Korea and
Singapore, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing
trade and security links.
It is one of his first international visits as Foreign Secretary
– following the United Nations General Assembly in New York –
demonstrating the continued importance of the Indo-Pacific Tilt,
and the UK’s ambition to become the European partner of choice
with the greatest presence in the region.
The UK and Japan are the closest of friends and partners. Prime
Minister recently met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at
the UN General Assembly in New York, where the leaders looked
forward to expanding the UK-Japan relationship. Both countries
are working together to further shared goals on security, defence
and trade through programmes like the Future Combat Air System
(FCAS) and the UK’s application to join the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP).
During the visit in Japan, Cleverly will attend the State Funeral
of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and meet Foreign Minister
Yoshimasa Hayashi. While in the Republic of Korea he will meet
Foreign Minister Park Jin and visit the Joint Security Area of
the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Finally in
Singapore, Cleverly will meet Minister for
Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and deliver a keynote speech
at the Milken Asia Summit.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary, , said:
“As I start my visit to the region in Japan, my thoughts are
with the Japanese people as we remember the legacy of former
Prime Minister Abe - their longest serving prime minister who
brought our two countries closer together.
“The UK has a long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific
region, as we look to establish a greater and more persistent
presence than any other European country. This in turn will
boost economic development, strengthen trade ties and enhance
security”.
While in Japan, the Foreign Secretary will offer
condolences at the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe. In a meeting with Foreign Minister Hayashi, Cleverly will
reaffirm the UK’s ongoing commitment to its relationship with
Japan, its closest security partner in Asia, and the two
countries’ strong people-to-people links.
Cleverly will then travel to the Republic of
Korea to highlight closer cooperation on security, trade
and energy and meet senior government Ministers. He will visit
the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarised Zone with the United
Nations Command. With Foreign Minister Park Jin, he will discuss
UK-RoK cooperation on global security and economic issues
including Ukraine, Russia and China as part of the existing
bilateral framework.
The visit will conclude
in Singapore, with a keynote speech at
the Milken Asia Summit setting out the Foreign Secretary’s
foreign policy vision for the Indo-Pacific region and meetings
with senior government Ministers.
In recognition of Singapore’s role as an important regional
finance centre, he will launch the new British Investment
International (BII) Office, boosting investment in green
infrastructure and establishing a significant economic hub. The
Foreign Secretary will outline the UK’s ambition to elevate the
UK-Singapore relationship over dinner with Minister for Foreign
Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.
