Statement by Mr. OTA Yuya, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

2024/2/5
 

(As delivered)
Dear Co-chairs,
 
Thank you for giving me the floor. We commend H.E. Mr. Alexander Marschik Carolyn, Permanent Representative of Austria, and H.E. Mr. Enkhbold Vorshilov, Permanent Representative of Mongolia, on assuming their duties as co-chairs of the Preparatory Committee. We believe that your Excellencies will play excellent leading roles throughout the Preparatory process.
 
I would also like to extend our appreciation to Rwanda for generously hosting the LLDC3 conference in Kigali. Japan is fully committed to actively contributing to the process leading up to the Conference.
 
As we are all aware, LLDCs face inherent disadvantages due to their lack of direct access to the sea, including isolation from global markets and high trade and transport costs. These challenges are exacerbated by lack of infrastructure connectivity. We need to address these urgent challenges at the next LLDC Conference. Moreover, we think it is important that the new outcome document be concise and consensus-based, in order to send a clear message to the international community.
 
Japan, in close cooperation with the international community, has been contributing steadily to the implementation of the Vienna Plan of Action (VPoA) by promoting human security based on human dignity and by providing various supports to LLDCs.
 
On the one hand, while international collaboration for LLDCs has made significant progress under the VPoA, on the other hand, LLDCs still face various challenges such as infrastructure for human mobility, information and communications technology (ICT), and trade facilitation, as well as creating resilient economies, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. By listening to the voices of LLDCs, Japan is committed to contributing positively to this preparatory process and will provide necessary supports that meet the needs of LLDCs so that we can address these challenges together.
 
To conclude, we look forward to having a fruitful discussion in the months to come.
 
I thank you.