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Visit
London, Aug. 29, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Prime Minister Theresa May will on Wednesday begin a three-day visit to Tokyo against North Korea’s latest missile test and fears among Japanese companies operating in Britain that they will lose money because of Brexit.
May’s office said in a statement issued on Tuesday that her visit was expected to cover “a wide range of bilateral and regional issues”.
It said that the focus of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be on defence and security cooperation, as well as trade and investment.
Concerning the missile that was launched over northern Japan’s Hokkaido island, May’s office said she was “outraged by North Korea’s reckless provocation, and she strongly condemns these illegal tests.”
Analysts expect the tension with North Korea to make it more difficult for May to focus the talks with Abe on trade.
May’s government has identified Japan as one of several major economies including the U.S., China and India with which it hopes to expand post-Brexit trade and investment.
A business delegation will accompany May on her first visit to Japan as prime minister.
“The visit is to showcase the strength of British business, the shared confidence in the UK-Japan economic relationship as we leave the EU, and the potential for future growth,” the statement said. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf