Statement by Mr. MORI Takatoshi, Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Item 127: Global health and foreign policy: Draft resolution (A/79/L.5) “Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance”

Mr. President,

Japan welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration of the High-Level Political Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance by consensus today. We would also like to extend our deep appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the co-facilitators, Malta and Barbados, as well as the able leadership of both the former and current Presidents of the General Assembly.

We are facing mounting obstacles as the world grapples with complex and interrelated crises and the international community is being increasingly divided. The Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted after overcoming many differences of opinion, represents our strong and unwavering commitment to a stronger, transparent partnership between the public and private sectors, as well as academia.

With that said, we regret that, towards the end of the negotiations, we saw a rush to push a final draft without sufficient consultations, resulting in a missed opportunity to build shared understanding on some specific policy issues, including on technology transfer in paragraph 87 in particular. In this regard, Japan would like to reiterate the importance of the basic concept that “technology transfer” should be conducted on voluntary and mutually agreed terms, since;
- technologies are in many cases property of private sectors and it is not acceptable that transfer of those technologies is forced by any party.
Therefore, "transfer of technology" should be "voluntary".
- “transfer of technology” should be conducted upon consent of parties. Therefore, “transfer of technology” should be on "mutually agreed terms".

Mr. President,

Today’s adoption is not an end, but the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda. Japan will continue to strengthen our best efforts toward the achievement of the SDGs.

I thank you.