Japan-Arab Dialogue
Second Session: 3-4 March 2004
Alexandria, Egypt
Overview
The Japan-Arab dialogue was set up as an informal means to explore ideas and strengthen cooperation Between Japan and the Arab World for the benefit of all parties involved. The First Meeting of "The Japan Arab Dialogue Forum" was held in Tokyo in September 4 and 5, 2003. This second meeting was held in Alexandria on March 3 and 4, 2004, sponsored by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The delegations of the Japan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt meeting in this second session of the Japan-Arab Dialogue have reviewed three topics: Cultural Dialogue, Socio-econoinic Development in the Arab World, and how to help the reconstruction of Iraq. On each of these topics, the parties reviewed possibilities and candidly shared views and analyses, hopes and concerns. The discussions were on the whole very candid and very wide ranging. The three heads of delegations (Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Former Prime Minister of Japan; Mr. Khaled bin Mohammed Al Gosaibi, Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia; and Mr. Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria) agreed in substance on this summary of the discussions being presented by the chairman at a joint press conference on 4 March 2004.
At this second meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum, it was felt by all that we must move towards some concrete results, that we had to identify ideas whose implementation would strengthen the dialogue and give substance to the concept of an expanded Japan-Arab partnership for Developmental purposes. We organized the proposals that we finally identified into a series of actions that would be beneficial and classified them in accordance with the likely speed with which they could be brought to fruition. We thus have three types of ideas or proposals:
(i) Short-term: ideas which could be implemented relatively rapidly (say within 12-24 months);
(ii) Medium-term: ideas that need more time to mature and required additional work to evaluate; and
(iii) Long-term: ideas that are only long-term prospects and that require a lot more work to give them a meaningful shape.
1.0. On Cultural dialogue:
1.1. Short-term: Intensification of exchanges:
To seek immediate increases in the numbers of exchanges, in everything from tourism to academic studies; from art and cultural exhibitions to large-scale training in entrepreneurship and industrial production. Intensify the programming of such visits through the existing channels.
1.2. Medium Term: Reciprocal Academic studies:
Establish programs of Japanese studies in the Arab World and of Arab Studies in Japan, all within existing institutions. Arrange for exchange of professors and of students; and systematize such programs so that they are fully adopted by the institutions housing them (rather than being seen as a marginal or esoteric activity). To seek new mechanisms to turn these expanded exchanges into meaningful systematic ongoing programs.
1.3. Long-Term: A Japan-Arab Technical University
To explore the possibilities of collaborating on the development of a special Japan-Arab University structure, starting with one or two programs attached to the Arab Academy of Science and Technology (AAST), and later possibly expanding into something more comprehensive if the first and more modest objective is ultimately accepted and achieved.
2.0. Iraq. anti-terrorism, peace and stability:
All participants reject terrorism of any kind, and call for international action to promote peace and stability based on justice and participation. We recognize there can be no stability based on injustice. Reconstruction in Iraq must allow for real participation and empowerment of the parties concerned.
We all firmly believe that Iraq must choose its own leaders and that the transition to that day must be as quick and as transparent as possible. We should expand humanitarian assistance and accelerate rebuilding the basic infrastructure, the "lifeline infrastructure", in Iraq. Implementation, however, is host age to greater stability and security in Iraq, and certainly, medium to long-term development must have political stability and security.
We agreed that long-term stability in the region will occur only if there is peace based on justice, and that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be resolved. In addition, Long-term socio-economic development that creates meaningful employment opportunities for youth is essential in a predominantly young Arab World, where as many as 80 million jobs will have to be created in the next 15 years in an increasingly competitive world.
2.1. Short-term: Humanitarian assistance and training:
Expansion of the medical program that is already active between Egypt and Japan
Launching of training for lifeline infrastructure for Iraqis and Arabs, drawing upon Japan's experience of earthquake reconstruction and building upon the expertise and capabilities of the private sectors in both Japan and the Arab countries. This training should include some of the new technologies.
Bring together the private sectors of both Japan and the Arab World to explore the possibilities of creating joint-ventures between the private sectors for helping in the reconstruction of basic infrastructure in Iraq.
While initially these activities will be focused on Iraq, we envisage that their usefulness and application can be much wider than meeting the urgent needs of Iraq.
2.2. Medium Term: completion of some basic lifeline infrastructure
Launch of some joint-ventures between the private sectors of Japan and the Arab World to assist in the implementation of basic lifeline infrastructure in Iraq.
2.3. Long-term: Stability requires socio-economic development as well as political solutions:
Long term stability will require accelerated socio-economic development in the Arab world, and the strengthening of the Japan-Arab partnership for development will be very helpful in this direction. Specific suggestions for this topic are included in the next section of this overview.
3.0. Socio-Economic Development:
Socio-economic development must go beyond the purely economic dimension and focus on the well being of the people. We are cognizant that development should be comprehensive and far-reaching.
Reforms and change are essential in a rapidly changing world, and are receiving increasingly high attention within the Arab World and elsewhere. But the participants agreed that reforms, no matter how well meaning cannot be imposed from the outside. That the reform process must be home-grown and driven by forces internal to the societies concerned. These forces must have the cultural legitimacy and sensitivity to implement the reforms in a meaningful fashion, paced to the specifics of each society and each country.
3.1. Short-Term: Supporting a home-grown effort at reform and working towards closer Japan-Arab economic cooperation:
The discussions took note of the planned Arab Reform Conference scheduled to take place in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in about ten days time. The participants endorsed this civil society initiative and were cautiously optimistic about the likely outcomes and the likely effectiveness of a follow-up mechanism.
To establish - within the framework of this Dialogue Forum - a joint expert team to examine the possibility of an Arab-Japan FTA which would help strengthen the Japan-Arab partnership, and accelerate economic growth within the Arab world and promote the integration of the Arab world into the World economy. The inclusion of joint-production opportunities would complement the FTA and open opportunities for more economic collaboration between Japan and the Arab World. The joint expert team exploring the possibilities of advancing the FTA idea, should learn from the experience of the Japan-Singapore agreement and the experiences of the Arab countries with other parts of the world. The FTA should be seen as part of a larger New-age economic partnership inspired by the Japan-Singapore agreement.
3.2. Medium-Term: Japanese support for mass training of Arab youth and expert group to study IPR issues:
Specific areas where a joint Japan-Arab action seems possible included:
The organization of mass training programs for many Arab youths in everything from entrepreneurship to technical skills. Such training could be undertaken with sending screened candidates to Japan or by bringing Japanese trainers to the Arab World.
To establish a special group of experts form both Japan and the Arab world to explore the possibilities of a more nuanced and balanced approach to IPR regimes that protect the interests of the innovators in the industrialized nations and at the same time recognize the basic needs of the poor in the world.
3.3. Lone-term: High-Tech joint production initiatives:
The exploration of the possibility of setting up a technical Japan-Arab Technical University and the organization of a science park for high-tech development, complete with incubators that can assist in the promotion of SMEs.
4.0. Next Meeting:
The participants agreed to the offer of Saudi Arabia to host the next meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum. The specific timing and venue will be fixed through diplomatic channels.
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