Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

It is an honor to join you at this crucial and timely event on "Global Action on AMR: Advancing Healthy Longevity and Sustainability under Universal Health Coverage." I extend my sincere thanks to the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and the AMR Alliance Japan for hosting this important side event.

As a member of the Global Leaders Group on AMR, I am truly delighted to be here, surrounded by such esteemed panelists and participants. AMR is one of the most urgent global health challenges, and today's discussions are more critical than ever.

In 2016, as Japan's Minister of Health, I witnessed AMR being placed on the UN General Assembly agenda for the first time. Since then, AMR has been a top priority for me. Standing before you in 2024, now as a GLG member, I feel a renewed sense of purpose as we gather for the second High-Level Meeting on AMR in eight years—a testament to our collective efforts.

Tomorrow, we will adopt the political declaration on AMR. Though the journey to this point has been challenging, I am confident that we have achieved a balanced resolution, combining ambition with feasibility. I express my deepest gratitude to all who contributed.

Yet, the real challenge begins now. As we move from the adoption of the political declaration to its implementation, I would like to highlight a few critical areas that require our unwavering attention.

First, establishing an independent scientific panel is essential, and I commend Dame Sally Davies for her leadership. As with climate change, science must guide our global action, and this panel will help accelerate evidence-based efforts against AMR.

Second, access to antimicrobials is vital. Proper use relies on proper access, and the political declaration's emphasis on this will shape our future response.

Third, we must boost incentives for antimicrobial R&D, as current efforts are insufficient. I urge the G7 and other platforms to advance pull incentives to drive innovation.

Fourth, financing is critical. While a dedicated AMR fund could be ideal, we should optimize existing global health financing mechanisms—like the Global Fund, Gavi, and the Pandemic Fund—to make them more AMR sensitive.

Finally, effective coordination is of utmost importance. AMR intersects with many sectors—health, security, industry, trade, finance, and aging populations, to name just a few. My years of experience have shown me how complex this challenge is. Strengthening coordination among stakeholders is crucial, and we are considering formalizing the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat to support this.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is inspiring to see so many leaders from diverse sectors gathered here today, united in our commitment to combat AMR. I look forward to our discussions and to working together to advance healthy longevity and sustainability under Universal Health Coverage, in Japan and around the world.

Thank you.