Press Releases

1. At the outset, Minister Hayashi congratulated the 100th anniversary of friendship between Japan and Lithuania and noted that Ms. ŠIMONYTĖ, Prime Minister of Lithuania, had a summit meeting with Prime Minister KISHIDA during her visit to Japan in October this year, and that they upgraded the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership on that occation. Minister Hayashi also stated that the two countries were determined to further strengthen their bilateral relations in various fields since the security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific region is inseparable.
2. Minister Hayashi highlighted the importance of promoting people-to-people exchange and deepening the mutual understanding between Japan and Lithuania. He especially emphasized the two countries’ willingness to pass the legacy of Mr. SUGIHARA Chiune, known for his “Visa for Life,” which is the symbol of the historical ties between Japan and Lithuania, to the next generation.
3. In conclusion, Minister Hayashi expressed his sincere hope that as we stand at a historic crossroad, the unity of like-minded countries, such as Japan and Lithuania, is more important than ever. He also stated that the two countries' friendship will flourish further as they work together to address the challenges facing the international community.

[Reference] Video message by Minister for Foreign Affairs HAYASHI (English) (PDF)