Meeting with Professor Sir Mark Walport, UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor May 16, 2016

Exchanging insights and opinions (Prof. Sir Walport, third from left)

Commemorative Photograph

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On May 16, 2016, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Ms. Aiko Shimajiri met with Professor Sir Mark Walport, UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor to Her Majesty’s Government and Head of the Government Office for Science. The meeting took place on the occasion of the G7 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Tsukuba, Ibaraki.

Minister Shimajiri expressed her appreciation for Sir Walport's visit to Japan and attendance at the Ministers' Meeting. She also expressed her desire that the G7 ministers actively discuss the issues at hand, leading to the issuance of a Tsukuba Communiqué.

Sir Walport delivered a letter to Minister Shimajiri from Jo Johnson, UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, extending apologies on behalf of Minister for his absence at the meeting due to unavoidable duties at home. Sir Walport also expressed his own desire to be active in discussing topics of high interest to the UK at the Ministers' Meeting.

Both the Minister and Sir Walport expressed their frank opinions about the format of the Ministers' Meeting and their desires to continue exchanging opinions about strengthening Japan-UK cooperation in the future.

Sir Walport enjoyed the Japanese cuisine served at the official lunch, as well as the traditional koto performance. He expressed his appreciation to the people of Ibaraki Prefecture and Tsukuba City for their hospitality.