[Title] Opening Remarks by Foreign Minister MOTEGI (Ministerial Meeting of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Friends Group)

- Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen,

- Thank you all for joining us today for this important meeting.

- It is my great pleasure to once again co-host this year’s Ministerial Meeting of Group of Friends on Universal Health Coverage, together with Thailand and Georgia.

- Global health has long been one of the main pillars of Japan’s foreign policy, and we are committed to promoting UHC to realize "human security."

- UHC not only directly impacts people's health, but it also helps countries to confront major economic, social, and security risks.

- I would like to make two points today.

- First, UHC is indispensable in preparing for future health crises.

- Addressing infectious diseases requires international cooperation.

- In response to the recent Ebola virus outbreak, Japan has provided 8.5 million US dollars in emergency grants to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

- The Government of Japan remains committed to provide necessary support.

- No one can predict the next health crisis.

- Building resilient health systems between crises is key.

- Therefore, we strongly hope that the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, to be held the day after tomorrow, will further reaffirm and strengthen international cooperation, including the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

- Second, achieving UHC requires the establishment of resilient, sustainable, and self-reliant health systems that respect country ownership.

- Japan attaches particular importance to strengthening countries’ “resilience” and enabling them to address their own development challenges in a sustainable manner.

- In this spirit, the Government of Japan is working with WHO and the World Bank, to advance the UHC Knowledge Hub initiative.

- The UHC Knowledge Hub supports capacity building for policy practitioners from Ministries of Health and Finance in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to strengthen health financing.

- Japan hosted the first in-person training in Tokyo in February, attended by senior officials from eight countries in Asia and Africa.

- Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of Thailand, as co-facilitator of next year's UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on UHC.

- The Government of Japan remains firmly committed to achieving UHC and to contributing to the success of the High-Level Meeting on UHC next year.

- Thank you for your kind attention.