The status of London as the world's leading financial hub will not change despite Britain's decision to walk away from the European Union, Jeffrey Evans, Lord Mayor of the City of London, said Thursday in Tokyo.
He was speaking amid concern that Britain's exit will undermine the city's global standing.
"We will continue to be leading international financial center," Evans told reporters at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where he met with Akira Kiyota, CEO of Japan Exchange Group Inc., of which the TSE is a subsidiary.
Evans also touched on the importance of Japanese companies operating in Britain, calling them "very good long-term partners." He said he is "very optimistic" about the future.
Britain's refrendum vote to exit the European Union in June roiled global financial markets, sending the yen higher, to the dismay of Japanese exporters.
After the meeting, Kiyota said he and Evans had discussed issues such as market turmoil following the Brexit vote.
Evans is scheduled to remain in Japan through Friday.