News

On 17 August, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis had a telephone conversation with the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. The Foreign Ministers discussed the aim of developing a strategic dialogue and partnership between Lithuania and Japan in view of the difficult security situation in Europe and Asia, and emerging new geopolitical challenges for the East Asian region.

“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Japan. We are glad at our mutual agreement to build a strategic partnership and to maintain a regular strategic dialogue on political, economic, regional security and other issues,” Landsbergis said.

Landsbergis thanked his Japanese counterpart for expanding sanctions against Russia and Belarus over the war in Ukraine in solidarity with the European Union. “We must not allow the normalisation of an aggressive behaviour of some countries, because impunity is dangerously destroying the architecture of global security,” Lithuania's Foreign Minister  said.

During the conversation, Landsbergis once again expressed his condolences over the loss [or assassination] of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe visited Lithuania in 2018. He has personally contributed to forging closer bilateral relations between Lithuania and Japan.