ISTANBUL

Abiding by international rules and standards is indispensable for quality growth, Japan’s prime minister said Saturday at the G20 summit in South Africa.

"Japan will work together with the other G20 members to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to rebuild responsible global governance," Sanae Takaichi said of her remarks at the G20 in Johannesburg, her first such gathering since being elected last month, her office posted on US social media company X.

Takaichi also said that she held her first meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the summit.

"Japan and the UK will continue to work closely together toward realizing a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’," she said.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue cooperating "closely in areas such as security and the economy," while also discussing the situations in East Asia and Ukraine, she added.