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[image: @smurph99]

The Mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, visited the UK this week following the Mayors for Peace Executive Conference held in Ypres, Belgium (11-13 November).  Visiting Manchester (a Vice President and Lead City of Mayors for Peace), Mayor Matsui met with the city’s Lord Mayor Cllr Paul Murphy (pictured) to discuss both cities’ work around promoting peace issues as part of their global network.

In September, both mayors co-signed a joint statement made on the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – as well as nuclear abolition, the statement sets out the responsibility of all city leaders to protect the safety and welfare of their citizens, and also preserving and promoting cultural and environmental values and heritages.

Two days later, on November 16, Mayors for Peace held a Parliamentary reception at the House of Lords (hosted by Lord Laird and Baroness Uddin) to meet British parliamentarians and local government representatives, as well as NGOs, to discuss the group’s work around international cooperation and that of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation.  This was also attended by the Embassy of Japan and Japan Local Government Centre.

Following the event, addressed by Mayor Matsui and Mayors for Peace Secretary General Yasuyoshi Komizo, the delegation visited London City Hall and were able to meet with the office of London Mayor Boris Johnson, including Deputy Mayor Sir Edward Lister.