[Title] Video Message by Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at '4th Ministerial Conference of The Moldova Support Platform'

Distinguished participants,

I am KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. First of all, I would like to extend my deep gratitude to President SANDU, Prime Minister RECEAN, Minister COLONNA, Minister BAERBOCK, Minister ODOBESCU, and Minister POPESCU for your initiative to organize this Ministerial Conference.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an outrageous act that shakes the very foundation of the international order. Moldova's efforts to date to lend a helping hand to Ukraine should be highly commended. It is a courageous act by Moldova, showcasing its long- standing posture of standing up for the people of Ukraine.

I myself have long been involved in support for the people of Ukraine and its neighbors including Moldova, who are facing difficulties. At the end of last year, I was involved in this line of effort called "Overwintering

support initiative JAPAN to send generators to Ukrainian people" as the initiator and also as a representative of a group of the Diet members. It is my great pleasure to get involved in the efforts as the Foreign Minister this time to support Moldova, who is striving to protect its freedom and democracy despite the challenges it is facing.

Distinguished participants, Japan has pledged more than 176 million US dollars to Moldova, which is facing severe consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. I would like to reiterate my utmost respect to Moldova for the tremendous contribution to the protection of Ukrainian lives. The efforts include receiving many displaced Ukrainians, despite the difficulties Moldova itself is facing.

This year, Japan decided to provide the Government of Moldova with a loan of 100 million US dollars. It is my sincere hope that the implementation of the financial assistance renders Moldova's society and economy more resilient, and it ensures Moldova's path to European integration.

Furthermore, Japan has contributed approximately 17 million US dollars to the World Bank's Global Concessional Financing Facility to reduce the interest payment burden of Moldova.

We can move closer to sustaining peace by having women actively participate as leaders in conflict resolution, reconstruction and peacebuilding while also protecting and helping women and girls. This is the concept of "Women, Peace, and Security," or WPS.

The perspective of women is indispensable in supporting Moldova. Japan is consistently supporting vulnerable people in Moldova, especially women and girls, affected by the aggression through its financial contribution to UN Women. In this context, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to President SANDU for participating in the World Assembly for Women hosted by Japan last year and will continue to work together with President SANDU in this field.

Japan stands with the government and the people of Moldova and is ready to continue the assistance with our areas of expertise, together with the like-minded countries joining here today.

Thank you very much.