[Title] Video Message from Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Three Seas Summit 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania

Your Excellency, Dr. Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania,

Distinguished participants,

I am honored to speak at the Three Seas Summit. More than anything, I am very pleased to give this speech today as we have just joined the Three Seas Initiative as Strategic Partner.

Security of the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable from that of the Indo-Pacific. It is with this growing recognition Japan strongly supports the 3SI. I would like to express my respect for Lithuania's leadership in hosting this summit.

Japan has been focused on strengthening connectivity among European states, the one among the

Baltic States, in particular. Following Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the connectivity between the northern part of the region and the south, which is playing an essential role in assistance and support for Ukraine is ever more important. Japan intends to reinforce its involvement in the 3SI in collaboration with partners both inside and outside of the region. Rail Baltica, a high-speed rail project that will pass through Lithuania, is the very example. We hope the project will contribute to greater trade flow, investment and manufacturing in the region.

In the context of strengthening ties between like- minded countries in support for Ukraine, Japan held the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction with Prime Minister Shmyhal on February 19. At the Conference, 56 cooperation documents between the public and private sectors were singed. An MOU to provide a two-step loan by JBIC through the Black Sea Trade Development Bank was one of them.

I understand that a business forum will be held today for further contributions by private actors in the region. Japan will play an active role in encouraging further participation of Japanese companies under the 3SI.

Thank you very much.