Safadi, Japanese PM talk ties, region

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi and Planning and International Cooperation Minister Zeina Toukan on Tuesday met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The group likewise discussed several regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Safadi conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah's greetings to Emperor Naruhito and the prime minister, as well as His Majesty's eagerness to strengthen the historical partnership between the two countries, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

Kishida stated that he looks forward to King Abdullah's visit to Japan next month to discuss ways to enhance relations between the two countries and expand cooperation in various fields.

The Japanese prime minister reiterated his country's appreciation for its relationship with Jordan and for the Kingdom's key role in promoting security and stability in the region. 

He also commended the Kingdom's great humanitarian role in hosting Syrian refugees, stressing Japan's readiness for broader cooperation with Jordan on many economic, investment, educational and defence projects.

Safadi reiterated the Kingdom's interest in increasing cooperation with Japan, and expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support and contributions to joint development programmes, including projects related to the energy and water sectors, among others. 

The foreign minister also stressed the importance of Japan’s support for refugees and UNRWA.

Safadi and Kishida discussed several regional and international issues, foremost of which was the Palestinian cause, where Safadi praised Japan’s position in support of the two-state solution. 

Safadi warned of the seriousness of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the need to halt Israel’s unilateral actions and create the necessary political grounds for reaching an end to the conflict based on the two-state solution.

Talks also went over the current status of the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” region, where Safadi reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for Japan in its efforts to resolve pending issues with North Korea, including the issue of kidnapped Japanese people.

As part of his meeting, Safadi and the speaker of the Japanese house of representatives, Hosoda Hiroyuki, discussed ways of expanding bilateral cooperation in various areas, enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries, several issues of mutual interest, recent regional and international developments and efforts to solve crises.

Safadi and Toukan also met with Chairman of the Japanese-Jordanian Parliamentary Friendship Committee Tanaka Kazunori and several of its members, where they reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Japan, the important role of parliamentarians’ in boosting ties and several issues of mutual interest.

Safadi and Toukan also held discussions with the chairman of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Sasaki Nobuhiko, on ways to expand Japanese investments in Jordan and enhance cooperation between Jordanian and Japanese companies.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan hosted Safadi at a session about Jordanian-Japanese relations, the Middle East peace process, global refugee crises and the latest regional developments.