(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I have an announcement about my overseas visit. Next Monday, July 22, to Friday, July 26, I will visit the United Kingdom (UK) and Sweden. In the UK, I will hold the Japan-UK-Italy Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting on next-generation fighter aircraft. In addition, I will view the Farnborough International Airshow. I believe that it is meaningful to confirm the direction of equipment manufacturing through dialogue with the representatives of four prime contractors from the UK, where the airshow will be held, and leading companies from the UK and France, and to promote to the world the product technology of Japanese companies, which will participate in the airshow. In Sweden, I will hold the Japan-Sweden Defense Ministerial Meeting with Defence Minister Jonson of Sweden. I intend to exchange views on various matters, including the background that Sweden drastically changed direction and joined NATO despite being a non-member state to date. Through this visit, I will confirm the commitment that Japan will strengthen cooperation with the UK and Italy toward developing and delivering next-generation fighter aircraft, and confirm the strong unity with like-minded countries toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.