The "wish of the whole world" is that, in a vote next week, the UK parliament backs the government's deal for an orderly departure from the European Union, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said after a meeting in Downing Street.

Japanese investment sees UK as gateway to Europe

At a press conference alongside his British counterpart Theresa May, Mr Abe pointed out the importance of the UK's role as a gateway to Europe for the hundreds of Japanese firms who had invested more than £46 billion in UK enterprises in the past four decades."It is the strong will of Japan to further develop this strong partnership with the UK, to invest more into your country and to enjoy further economic growth with the UK," Mr Abe said."That is why we truly hope that a no-deal Brexit will be avoided, and in fact that is the whole wish of the whole world."Japan is in total support of the draft withdrawal agreement worked out between the EU and Prime Minister May, which provides for a transition to ensure legal stability for businesses that have invested into this country."

Abe's comments reflect international concerns over chaotic no-deal

The comments by Mr Abe, who was one of the first to welcome the withdrawal deal between the UK and EU when it was announced in November, reflected growing international concern over the possibility of a chaotic exit from the bloc in March, with a consequent disruption to supply chains.Although the deal negotiated by Mrs May has overwhelming backing from British businesses, MPs appear set to reject it when it comes to a parliamentary vote on Tuesday."The world is watching the UK as it exits the European Union," said Mr Abe. "I would like to extend my deepest respect for the strong will and hard work by Theresa for the parliamentary approval of the Withdrawal Agreement."Japan and the UK have been building a very strong partnership, not only in the political arena but also the economic area. For Japan, the UK is the gateway to the European market, Japanese businesses have created 1,000 bases in the UK offering more than 150,000 jobs."

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Pledge to build bilateral UK-Japan trade agreement after Brexit

For her part, Mrs May said she and Mr Abe had pledged to build on the trade agreement between Japan and the EU to secure an "ambitious bilateral arrangement" between Japan and the UK after Brexit. And reiterated her plea to MPs to back her withdrawal agreement to avoid no-deal Brexit."The only way to avoid no deal is to have a deal and to agree a deal, and the deal that is on the table, the deal that is the deal that the EU has made clear is the only deal," she said."There's an issue that's been raised about the backstop, and we are continuing to work with the EU on that particular issue, but there is a good deal on the table and for those who want to avoid no deal then backing the deal is the thing to do."Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online DirectorySubscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all of the international assignments and global mobility news.

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