Mr. President, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Antimicrobial resistance, AMR, is one of the most immense and critical issues that require immediate global actions. I appreciate the efforts made by all the stakeholders to address AMR at this High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly, and to adopt the political declaration on AMR.

This year, our collective actions through a series of international meetings, including the Tokyo Meeting of Health Ministers on Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia in April, G7 Ise-Shima Summit in May and the G7 Kobe Health Ministers' Meeting held a week ago placed AMR as the priority global agenda requiring highest level of political will leading to this very meeting.

I would like to share Japan's commitment to address AMR in the following three priority areas.

First, we emphasize the importance of precise diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics in clinical settings to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics as a global public good. In Japan, frequent prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics raises serious concerns and therefore, we need to establish effective clinical guideline and conduct professional training.

Second, global data sharing on AMR is essential for making policies and strategies in countries and regions. To fight against AMR, we encourage countries to establish national AMR surveillance systems and enroll in the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS). Japan will further advance technical cooperation, especially in the Asian region, where 4.7 million people are estimated to die due to AMR by 2050, the largest number among all the regions. We need to develop laboratory capacities for monitoring and surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use to prevent the spread of AMR.

Third, we will accelerate research and development on AMR. Japan will continue to support R&D of antimicrobials including investment in drug-resistant malaria and tuberculosis through Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, or GHIT, a public-private partnership fund among Japanese Government, private sectors and philanthropies. In addition, we will create harmonized regulatory guideline on AMR.

Mr. President, I strongly believe that this High-Level Meeting offer a critical opportunity as a tipping point to save future generations from drug-resistant infections. Japan will continue to work closely with the international community and to be at the forefront of the global action on AMR.

Thank you.