Ambassador Suzuki hosts reception to mark arrival in UK
2024/11/28
On 28 November, Ambassador and Madame Suzuki hosted a reception at the Embassy of Japan to mark the start of their posting in the UK. The reception saw the attendance of approximately 180 distinguished guests, including the Rt Hon the Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court of the UK, and leaders in the field of legal affairs, as well as Lord Coaker, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Sir Mark Hendrick MP, Chair of the British-Japanese Parliamentary Group, and many other British lawmakers and senior government officials. Also present were prominent figures from the Royal Household and the Diplomatic Corps as well as international organisations in London, the Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and leaders and representatives from the fields of culture, education, business and the media.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Suzuki expressed his great pleasure at returning to London after 12 years. He recalled his previous stint in 2012, when he had served as a Minister at the Embassy of Japan before suddenly being called back to Tokyo as the Private Secretary for Prime Minister Abe after he had won the general election. He added that earlier in his career he had been posted to Boston, Washington, Rome, Tehran, Kabul and Seoul as well as London, and most recently to Delhi, where he had served as Japanese Ambassador to India. He expressed the wish to visit as many places as possible during his time in the UK. For her part, Madame Suzuki stated that she was very happy to be back in London and to be reunited with her old friends.
Lord Reed, President of the Supreme Court of the UK, declared that Japan and the UK were island nations that shared the same fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and he outlined the prospects for future cooperation between Japan and the UK in the field of justice. He emphasised that relations between Japan and the UK had made great strides in recent years, illustrated by the state visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress in June, and that he looked forward to further cooperation between the two countries, building on the strong foundations already in place. He concluded by wishing Ambassador Suzuki a successful stay in the UK and hoped he would enjoy his time here.
In addition, Lord Patten, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford, paid tribute to the history, culture and values of Japan and reflected on the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to Oxford University during their state visit. He also shared some humorous personal stories of his encounters with Japanese diplomats and expressed his confidence that Ambassador Suzuki would contribute to the further strengthening of Japan-UK relations.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Suzuki expressed his great pleasure at returning to London after 12 years. He recalled his previous stint in 2012, when he had served as a Minister at the Embassy of Japan before suddenly being called back to Tokyo as the Private Secretary for Prime Minister Abe after he had won the general election. He added that earlier in his career he had been posted to Boston, Washington, Rome, Tehran, Kabul and Seoul as well as London, and most recently to Delhi, where he had served as Japanese Ambassador to India. He expressed the wish to visit as many places as possible during his time in the UK. For her part, Madame Suzuki stated that she was very happy to be back in London and to be reunited with her old friends.
Lord Reed, President of the Supreme Court of the UK, declared that Japan and the UK were island nations that shared the same fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and he outlined the prospects for future cooperation between Japan and the UK in the field of justice. He emphasised that relations between Japan and the UK had made great strides in recent years, illustrated by the state visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress in June, and that he looked forward to further cooperation between the two countries, building on the strong foundations already in place. He concluded by wishing Ambassador Suzuki a successful stay in the UK and hoped he would enjoy his time here.
In addition, Lord Patten, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford, paid tribute to the history, culture and values of Japan and reflected on the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to Oxford University during their state visit. He also shared some humorous personal stories of his encounters with Japanese diplomats and expressed his confidence that Ambassador Suzuki would contribute to the further strengthening of Japan-UK relations.