Rio de Janeiro: Japan and the UK have agreed to establish a new ministerial framework aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, as announced by the office of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This development emerged from discussions between Prime Minister Ishiba and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the G20 leaders' summit in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro. According to Anadolu Agency, the two leaders endorsed the initiation of the Japan-UK Economic 2+2 Ministers' Meeting, also known as "Economic 2+2." This initiative is designed to advance economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and economic security between Japan and the UK. The meeting served as an opportunity for Starmer to extend his congratulations to Ishiba on his recent ascension to the role of prime minister. The discussions also encompassed broader international issues, with both leaders agreeing to collaborate closely on global challenges, including the situations in East Asia and Ukraine. They emphasized the interconnected na ture of security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions and praised the substantial progress in cooperation between the two nations. This includes initiatives such as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the planned deployment of the UK's Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, and the application of Japan Self-Defense Forces' asset protection measures to the UK.