Politics & Government

Kishida, Johnson agree on security cooperation in Indo-Pacific, U.K. imports of Fukushima food

Yoshitaka Nishi / The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shake hands before their meeting at Schloss Elmau, Germany, on Tuesday.

By Michitaka Kaiya / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

15:06 JST, June 29, 2022

MUNICH — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed on promoting security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region during their talks on Tuesday at Schloss Elmau, Germany, on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

Johnson also told Kishida that from Wednesday, the United Kingdom is scheduled to lift restrictions on importing food from Fukushima and some other prefectures. The U.K. introduced the restrictions following the 2011 nuclear disaster at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Kishida welcomed the lifting of restrictions. Johnson then thanked him for Japan’s patience on this issue, adding that he also welcomed the move even though it might have been late in coming.

“I’d like to further promote our cooperation, including our partnership in the Indo-Pacific,” Kishida said to Johnson during their meeting.

Johnson told Kishida that bilateral relations will be further strengthened, saying the U.K. had an interest in deepening ties in the fields of security, trade and technology.