- PM set to agree historic ‘Hiroshima Accord’ on UK-Japan
economic, security and tech collaboration
- UK to step up defence cooperation with Japan to uphold
stability in the Indo-Pacific
- PM will visit a naval base and host a business reception in
Tokyo before travelling to Hiroshima to meet Prime Minister
Kishida ahead of G7
Prime Minister and Japan’s Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida will agree a landmark new global strategic
partnership, ‘The Hiroshima Accord’ when they meet in the city
later today [Thursday 18th May].
The UK’s relationship with Japan has grown further and faster
than with any other international partner, reflecting Japan’s
pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific and their centrality to the UK’s
security and prosperity. In the last six months, we have
completed negotiations to join the CPTPP trade bloc, launched the
UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme and signed a
ground-breaking defence Reciprocal Access Agreement.
The Hiroshima Accord will cement this relationship, with new
agreements on defence, trade and investment, science and
technology collaboration, and joint work on tackling global
issues like climate change.
Arriving in Tokyo on Thursday, the Prime Minister will visit a
naval base and confirm new UK-Japan defence cooperation. This
includes doubling UK troop numbers in upcoming joint exercises,
committing to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific
in 2025 and agreeing a formal Consult Clause, whereby the UK and
Japan commit to consult each other on important regional and
global security issues and consider measures in response.
We are also launching a set of science and technology programmes
to support UK-Japan collaboration at every stage of the pipeline,
from early career researchers through to bringing new innovations
to market. It includes a new strategic relationship between
Imperial College London and the University of Tokyo, built on
collaboration with Hitachi Ltd, to develop a UK-Japan Cleantech
Innovation Hub and scale up the rapid development of green
technologies.
As part of the new Accord, the UK and Japan will launch a
Semiconductors Partnership, with new commitments to pursue
ambitious R&D cooperation and skills exchange, strengthening
our domestic sectors and bolstering supply chain resilience in an
increasingly competitive market.
Later on Thursday, the Prime Minister will host a reception of
key Japanese business leaders in Tokyo to reiterate the
importance of our trade and investment relationship. He is
expected to confirm billions of pounds of new job creating
investments in the UK.
Prime Minister said:
“It is a privilege to be visiting Tokyo and Hiroshima at this
historic moment in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Japan.
“Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the
importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific
and defending our values, including free and fair trade.
“The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up cooperation between our
armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our
world-leading science and technology expertise. It marks an
exciting next phase in the UK and Japan’s flourishing
partnership.”
The fourth UK-Japan joint ‘Vigilant Isles’ military exercises,
taking place in Japan later this year, will be the biggest yet
with around 170 UK personnel taking part, including from the 1
Royal Gurkha Rifles and 16 Air Assault Brigade.
The UK will confirm today that its Carrier Strike Group will
return to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, following its maiden voyage
to the region in 2021. The fleet, comprised of an aircraft
carrier, her escorts and her aircraft, will work alongside the
Japanese Self Defence Forces and other regional partners to help
defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As part of the defence agreements under the Hiroshima Accord, the
Prime Minister is expected to agree a new Cyber Partnership with
Japan. This will deepen UK-Japan cooperation on cyber and set a
high level of ambition for the future relationship, with Fujitsu
UK joining the National Cyber Security Centre’s Industry 100, and
the UK and Japan piloting a new Japan Cyber Security Fellowship
to develop future cyber leaders.
We will also unveil a new Renewable Energy Partnership, aimed at
accelerating the deployment of clean energy in the UK, Japan and
third countries.
Notes to editors:
The Hiroshima Accord: An Enhanced UK-Japan Strategic
Partnership will be published on gov.uk later on
Thursday, after the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Kishida
meet in Hiroshima.
