Japan-Lithuania Relations
Japan-Lithuania Summit Meeting
Photograph of the leaders shaking hands
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the Japan-Lithuania Summit Meeting
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the joint press announcement
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On January 13, commencing at 5:40 p.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, who was visiting Lithuania, held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of Lithuania. The overview is as follows.
1. Opening remarks
The two leaders confirmed the ties between Japan and Lithuania established by Mr. Chiune Sugihara, and shared the view that Mr. Sugihara’s courageous actions had significant humanitarian implications even today.
2. Bilateral relations
- (1) Prime Minister Abe expressed expectation that a Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) business mission would be dispatched in the future, further promoting investment and economic exchanges between the two countries. The two leaders shared the view that they would advance bilateral cooperation in various areas including science and technology, medical fields such as life science, and fintech.
- (2) The two leaders shared the view that they would further expedite discussions on introducing a working holiday program.
- (3) Prime Minister Abe welcomed that Honorary Consulate of Lithuania had newly opened in Gifu Prefecture.
- (4) The two leaders shared the view that they would establish the Japan-Baltic Cooperation Dialogue (Note) in order to further advance cooperation between Japan and the Baltic States.
3. Japan-European Union (EU) relations
- (1) The two leaders confirmed that the maintenance and strengthening of the international order based on the rule of law is a diplomatic and security challenge of the utmost importance that Japan and Europe, who share fundamental values, need to address in cooperation, in the face of various challenges.
- (2) Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of Lithuania at the time of the conclusion of the negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and voiced expectation that economic relations between the two countries would strengthen by bringing the EPA into force.
4. North Korea
The two leaders shared the view that they would never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and that it was necessary to maximize pressure by all means available, including through the full implementation of the new United Nations Security Council resolution, in order to urge North Korea to change its policy. In addition, Prime Minister Abe requested Lithuania’s understanding and cooperation for promptly resolving the abductions issue.
- (Note) The “Japan-Baltic Cooperation Dialogue”
- A dialogue framework for promoting cooperation between Japan and the Baltic countries in a variety of fields in the future that Prime Minister Abe agreed to establish with the leaders of the three Baltic States when he visited them in January this year for the first time as Prime Minister of Japan. (Participation from the public and private sectors is envisaged).