Speaker of the Seimas: ‘Japan is an important partner in strengthening the rules-based world order and security’

Press release, 27 October 2023 

On her visit to Tokyo, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, had a meeting with Hiroyuki Nagahama, Vice-President of the House of Councillors an; Fukushiro Nukaga, newly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan; Chairman of the Japan-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship League, and other Members of the National Diet of Japan. The meetings focused on strategic bilateral and Indo-Pacific partnerships and security building.

‘As the visit is taking place on the first anniversary of the signing of the Lithuania-Japan strategic partnership, I talked about the Action Plan 2023–2025 of the Lithuanian authorities, including ministries, government agencies and enterprises, which are engaged in the implementation of this partnership. I also took the opportunity to encourage the Japanese parliamentary committees to work more closely with the relevant committees of the Seimas, to exchange visits and to take part in trade fairs, such as the Baltic Miltech Summit, in order to strengthen this strategic partnership,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.

Meeting between Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, and Hiroyuki Nagahama, Vice-President of the House of Councillors of the National Diet of Japan, Tokyo. Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Meeting between Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, and Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan, Tokyo. Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

The Speaker of the Seimas believes that Lithuania and Japan are like-minded countries, sharing the values of democracy, respect for international norms and the principles of the rule of law, the free market, human rights and freedoms, as well as the desire to preserve peace and security, both in the region and worldwide.

‘I said in today’s meetings that Lithuania saw Japan as an important partner within the Indo-Pacific Strategy for strengthening the rules-based world order and developing relations with other countries in the region. I have invited representatives of the National Diet of Japan to a conference on Indo-Pacific security to be held at the Seimas next year. The security situation in the North Atlantic affects the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and vice versa,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.

As she went on to discuss the topic of security, the Speaker of the Seimas pointed out that Japan was providing a great deal of humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine and that it was planning to take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Lithuania and Japan would like to carry out joint development cooperation projects in Ukraine, such as mine clearance, etc.

Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen will conclude her visit to Japan with an opening speech at Lithuania NOW, the largest festival showcasing Lithuanian culture in Japan, which has been held in Gifu Prefecture, the home province of Chiune Sugihara, since 2018.

Meeting between Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, and Hirofumi Nakasone, Chairman of the Japan-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship League, Tokyo. Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt