The Visit to Japan of Minister of Foreign Affairs
Muhammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa of the State of Bahrain
(Overview and Evaluation)

7 February 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Significance of the Visit

This visit represented the first official visit to Japan of a Minister of Foreign Affairs from Bahrain (as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan). Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa is well-known in international diplomatic circles, having served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Bahrain since the country's independence more than 30 years ago. This year Bahrain is also serving as the president of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

2. Diary of Events

Dates: 3 February (Sat.) to 6 February (Tues.)
After a visit to Kyoto (3 and 4 February), Foreign Minister Muhammed returned to Tokyo where he was received by Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. In Tokyo a Japan-Bahrain Foreign Ministers' Meeting was also held, together with a dinner hosted by Minister of Foreign Affaris Yohei Kono, as well as talks with Minister for Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology Nobutaka Machimura, and a luncheon hosted by President of the Japan Foundation Hiroaki Fujii.

3. Summary of Japan-Bahrain Foreign Ministers' Meeting

(Prior to their meeting, both Foreign Ministers signed a Joint Annoucnement of Cooperation between Foreign Ministries)

(1) Foreign Minister Kono stated that he evaluated highly the measures towards democratization being promoted by the Amir of Bahrain His Highness Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and expressed his respect for the important role that Bahrain is playing as a pivot for security in the Gulf region and his expectation that a Bahraini diplomatic mission would be established in Tokyo (Currently Bahrain is the only country of the group of countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council not to have an embassy in Tokyo. Foreign Minister Muhammed had referred to the possibility of establishing an embassy this year in an interview conducted before his visit to Japan.).

(2) In response, Foreign Minister Muhammed conveyed a message of friendship to the people of Japan, in addition to asserting Bahrain's intention to strengthen bilateral ties, in particular by establishing an embassy in Tokyo. Foreign Minister Muhammed offered an explanation of the democratization policies in Bahrain (the National Action Charter including freedom of expression and direct elections), and economic reforms (acceptance of 100% foreign owned capital investment), and others.

(3) Foreign Minister Kono also explained the content of the "New Concept Toward the Promotion of Multi-Layered Relations with the Gulf Countries" (the "Kono Initiative") (promotion of "Dialogues among civilizations with the world of Islam", development of water resources, and promotion of a broad policy dialogue), for which Foreign Minister Muhammed expressed his gratitude, at the same time expressing the hope to press forward with focused discussions on development of water resources in particular.

(4) The situation in Iran and Iraq and the Middle East peace process were also discussed at the meeting, and Foreign Minister Muhammed expressed his confidence in President Khatami of Iran, and stressed the importance of confidence-building with Iraq, explaining the importance of moving to secure accumulative efforts toward a comprehensive peace since the Madrid agreement of 1991. In addition, discussion also took place concerning situations in East Asia and Russia, and both Foreign Ministers were able to engage in a lively and wide-ranging exchange of opinions.

4. Evaluation

(1) This visit to Japan was the first official visit of a Bahraini Foreign Minister, and it is expected that it will have given new impetus to bilateral relations, which are currently somewhat weak due to the lack of diplomatic representation of Bahrain in Tokyo. In particular, the Joint Announcement of Cooperation between Foreign Ministries that was signed by both Foreign Ministers will strengthen political dialogue on the bilateral governmental level. Furthermore, with regard to the establishment of an embassy in Tokyo, that a clear commitment was made at a high level will contribute to closer bilateral relations.

(2) In addition, by inviting the Foreign Minister of Bahrain to Japan, a country which Foreign Minister Kono was unable to visit on his tour of the Gulf countries, Foreign Minister Kono was able to explain in concrete terms the "Kono Initiative" which he proposed during the course of his visit to the Gulf countries and received support from Foreign Minister Muhammed, providing an opportune follow up to the visit. This year Bahrain is serving as president of the GCC, and the wide-ranging discussions on the regional and international situation as a whole that this visit to Japan provided have great significance for Japan's future promotion of diplomatic relations with the countries of the Gulf region.

(3) For the future, through support towards the establishment of an embassy in Tokyo and the promotion of the steady implementation of the Kono Initiative (e.g. Japanese language training for diplomats, youth exchanges, and the construction of a network of experts through a framework of a "Dialogue among civilizations with the world of Islam"), it is necessary to give further momentum to the developments achieved through this visit to Japan of Foreign Minister Muhammed.