[Title] STATEMENT BY JAPAN'S AMBASSADOR IN CHARGE OF ARCTIC AFFAIRS

Japan appreciates Iceland's efforts and expresses its respect for successful organization of series of official meetings and events under the last two-year Chairmanship of the Arctic Council (AC), especially such very first attempts as SAO Marine Mechanism in 2020, the International Symposium on Plastics in the Arctic and the Sub-Arctic Region in this March, as well as the Chairmanship's Observer online event on Arctic Governance in this April.

Japan respects the basic principles of the AC, believing that sustainable economic activities should be taken place with due consideration for the vulnerable Arctic ecosystem as well as the rights and lives of Indigenous peoples. With that in mind, Japan has proactively been promoting international cooperation in the framework of the AC by leveraging our strength in scientific research. Japan, same as other Observers, can make good contributions to a better future for the Arctic through continuous participation in the working groups and the task forces of the AC and through bilateral and multilateral dialogues with AC member states. Japan believes that it is also possible to contribute to the AC's decision-making process by providing highly accurate scientific data and technical inputs based on scientific insights.

Japan has been sharing research outcomes with the entire international community in cooperation with AC member states and relevant countries through its unique research initiatives including Arctic Data archive System (ADS). In 2020 Japan launched the five-year ArCS II (Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II) project following the previous ones, namely GRENE Arctic Climate Change Research Project and ArCS. ArCS II is aimed at strengthening the system for sustainable international research collaboration and to build an international network of experts.

Japan will continue to cooperate and collaborate with AC member states and other Arctic stakeholders, for further contributing to scientific research and observation, to sustainable economic activities that take into account ecosystems and the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples, and ensuring the rule of law.