Voice of America
03 May 2021, 11:35 GMT+10
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in London for talks with his counterparts from G-7 nations, with the coronavirus pandemic, Russia and China among likely agenda items during two days of formal meetings and side discussions.
Iran and North Korea, two nations whose nuclear programs have been the focus of negotiations in recent years, are set to be discussed at a working welcome dinner Monday night.
Blinken's sideline meetings Monday include talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Bruneian Foreign Minister II Dato Erywan Yusof, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishanka and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
"It was eight years ago that the U.K. (United Kingdom), our indispensable Ally, last hosted the G-7 Presidency," Blinken tweeted after arriving in Britain. "It's good to be back among partners and allies for these discussions."
Britain's Foreign Office said Raab and Blinken would be consulting on Afghanistan, Iran, China and trade in their meeting.
The G-7 ministerial talks are laying the foundation for a summit of leaders from those countries in June, also in Britain.
The U.S. State Department said this week's meetings would be a chance to discuss "advancing economic growth, human rights, food security, gender equality, and women's and girls' empowerment."
In addition to Britain and the United States, the G-7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei are also taking part in this week's talks.
After the G-7 meetings, Blinken is due to travel to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior government officials.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that Blinken will "reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression."
Get a daily dose of Japan Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Japan Herald.
More InformationBEIJING, China -- The Communist Party of China has launched a four-month campaign to urge its around 100 million members to bolster...
GENEVA, Switzerland: Japan's car industry is facing a multibillion-dollar blow as sweeping U.S. auto tariffs threaten its largest export...
MANILA, Philippines: A Philippine security official stated that acquiring F-16 fighter jets from the United States will not harm any...
U.S., Russia hold fresh talks in Istanbul on restoring diplomatic missionsU.S. and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on Thursday...
Washington DC [US], April 11 (ANI): Amid the tumbling stock market in the US, following the White House clarification of tariffs on...
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April (11) ANI: The Indian team carried on their winning run at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday, wiping out much of the gains that came in the relief rally a day earlier after...
LOS ANGELES, California: Over the weekend, hundreds of Hollywood workers, including crew members, producers, and actors, asked California...
ATHENS, Greece: As Europe braces for the economic fallout of new U.S. tariffs, a top eurozone official has warned the consequences...
LA PAZ, Bolivia: Rising prices are changing daily life for Bolivians, forcing families to cut back as inflation hits its highest levels...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks roared back to life on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump back flipped on his recently announced...
AUSTIN, Texas: Attorney General Ken Paxton announced over the weekend that the state has launched an investigation into a company,...