Japan-Lithuania Relations
Foreign Minister MOTEGI visits Lithuania
July 3, 2021
On July 3, commencing at 10:30 a.m. local time (same day, 4:30 p.m. JST) for 2 hours and 30 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Lithuania, held a foreign ministers' meeting with H.E. Mr. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.
After the meeting, commencing at 1:00 p.m. local time(same day, 7:00 p.m. JST) for 30 minutes, Minister Motegi paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Ingrida Simonyte, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania.
The overview of the series of meetings is as follows.
- Minister Motegi stated that Japan attaches importance to their relationship with Lithuania, a country with whom they share fundamental values and historical bonds, including “Visas for Life” issued by Sugihara Chiune. Minister Motegi stated he was delighted to be the first Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Lithuania in 15 years, a year after the 80th anniversary of “Visas for Life” and the year prior to the "100th anniversary of friendship." In response, the Lithuanian side welcomed Minister Motegi's visit and expressed their expectations for further development of bilateral relations, including economic relations. Both sides concurred that they would further develop a wide range of cooperative relationships in the areas of politics, economy, and culture, based on Minister Motegi’s visit and next year’s 100th anniversary of their friendship.
- Minister Motegi welcomed Lithuania's formulation of the "roadmap for a strategic partnership with Japan" and stated that he highly appreciated Lithuania's emphasis on the unity of like-minded countries including the EU, Japan, and the United States in the Indo-Pacific and their willingness to strengthen relations with Japan. The Lithuanian side responded that Japan is the most important player among their like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific and that they would like to build a strategic partnership with Japan. In addition, Minister Motegi requested Lithuania’s cooperation on lifting the EU’s import restrictions on Japanese food products.
- Both sides shared the view on strengthening cooperation in areas such as renewable energy and medical care. Minister Motegi also stated that he believed that Japanese companies with high technological capabilities could contribute to region-wide infrastructure projects in the Baltic States, including Lithuania, such as the project for synchronization with the continental network. Both ministers shared the view to promote cooperation to strengthen European integration.
- Minister Motegi welcomed the formulation of the "EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific" in April as a strong indicator that the EU will be involved in the Indo-Pacific, and he expressed his intention to promote cooperation with the EU towards a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," which received strong support from the Lithuanian side.
- Both ministers exchanged their views on East Asia and shared serious concerns about continued and strengthened attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East and the South China Seas, including the Coast Guard Law, as well as the situations surrounding Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Both sides shared the views the importance of maintaining and strengthening a rule-based free and open international order through unity of like-minded countries that share fundamental values. Both sides confirmed full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions towards the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of North Korea. Minister Motegi asked for understanding and cooperation for the immediate resolution of the abduction issue and gained the support of Lithuania. In addition, both sides exchanged views on regional affairs including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus as well as the cooperation between Japan and NATO.
- The Lithuanian side expressed their support for holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.