Political Section promotes cooperation between the UK and Japan across a broad range of issues. The priority areas of work currently include the following.

• International development, particularly realisation of the UN Millenium Development Goals.
• Reform of international institutions, particularly expansion of the permanent membership of the UN Security Council including a seat for Japan.
• International security, particularly peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation in Afghanistan and Africa.
• Counter proliferation, with particular reference to Iran and North Korea.

Political Section also devotes considerable attention to working with Japan on issues such as North East Asian regional security, counter terrorism, human rights (for example in Burma) and peace in the Middle East.

In carrying out this agenda, Political Section communicates the policies and views of the UK Government to Japanese officials, particularly in the MFA, and opinion formers. It follows developments in Japanese policy-making and broader political trends and reports back to the UK Government to help it promote its views effectively. It also supports a very active programme of visits in both directions by ministers and senior officials and promotes exchanges between parliamentarians to increase mutual understanding.

Political Section
Tel: 03 5211 1100 Fax: 03 5211 1344
E-mail: political.tokyo@fco.gov.uk