The Mirror News Today

Japan, UK agree to launch economic ‘two-plus-two’ talks | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan, UK agree to launch economic ‘two-plus-two’ talks | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan and Britain have agreed to launch an economic version of the so-called “two-plus-two” talks, involving their foreign, economy and trade ministers.

The agreement came in a meeting held between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his British counterpart Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

During the roughly 20-minute meeting, Starmer congratulated Ishiba on his appointment as prime minister.

Ishiba thanked him and said Japan hopes to strengthen its relations with Britain in all sectors and at all levels.

The prime ministers shared the view that “the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable.”

They agreed to cooperate for a free and open Indo-Pacific, including the trilateral development of a next-generation fighter jet alongside Italy.

The “two-plus-two” talks will include cooperation on economic security.

The prime ministers agreed that the first “two-plus-two” meeting will be held as early as January.

They also discussed the situations in East Asia and Ukraine and reaffirmed that they will maintain close coordination.