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JAPAN-EGYPT JOINT STATEMENT ON THE OCCCASION OF THE VISIT BY PRIME MINISTER ABE TO THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

May 2, 2007

H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, made an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt on May 2, 2007.

During his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Mohammad Hosny Mubarak held a meeting and issued the following statement towards the development of strategic relations between Japan and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

  1. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the steady progress of the bilateral relations in all aspects and reiterated their common determination to further strengthen the cordial bonds through enhancing dialogue and cooperation at all levels. In this connection, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Japan-Egypt Partnership Program which was launched at the time of President Mubarak's visit to Japan in 1999 with a view to enhancing consultations and cooperation between the two countries towards a 21st century of "Peace and Prosperity."
  2. Prime Minister Abe underscored the geopolitical importance of Egypt which is playing a pivotal role for the stability and security of the region, and expressed Japan's willingness to strengthen its partnership with Egypt as the strategic hub in the Middle East and Africa.
  3. In this connection, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Memorandum on Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries as an important step to cement the strategic partnership between the two countries.
  4. President Mubarak expressed his support for Japan playing an even more active role in the international arena and reiterated his appreciation for Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) of which Egypt is the largest recipient to date in the Middle East. Concerning the yen loan aid newly extended to the Grand Egyptian Museum Construction Project in Giza, both sides expressed their expectation that the Museum would make a significant progress under the cooperation between the two countries and that it would be instrumental in further promoting cultural exchanges and tourism.
  5. Both sides reaffirmed the need for further high-level visits and Prime Minister Abe invited President Mubarak to visit Japan on the occasion of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) meeting. President Mubarak took note of the invitation and appreciated the leading role played by Japan for African development such as "One Village, One Product" campaign and African Fair which have been initiated by Japan. With respect to TICAD, both sides confirmed the importance of Japan-Egypt cooperation aimed at enhancing South-South cooperation in Africa. Both sides reaffirmed the need to enhance such tripartite cooperation also in the Middle East.
  6. Both sides shared the view that further development of economic relations is a main driving force towards strengthening partnership between Japan and Egypt. In this context, the Japanese side expressed its satisfaction with Egypt's economic reform and improvements achieved so far, and both sides highlighted the significance of the high-level Japanese private sector mission accompanying Prime Minister Abe and expressed their hope that it would contribute to further enhancement of the economic relations, including in the energy sector, between the two countries, specially in the light of Egypt's economic achievements. In this regard, both sides highly valued the progress in exploring and developing oil and gas fields in Egypt made by Japanese oil companies. In addition, both sides confirmed the importance of the successful meeting of the Seventh Joint Japan-Egypt Business Council held in Cairo in November, 2006.
  7. Recognizing that education is an essential factor of real development of the nation, both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue to cooperate in such areas as human resources development. In this connection, both sides expressed their intention to expedite their efforts to establish the Egypt and Japan University for Science and Technology (E-JUST) and expressed their willingness to build upon the progress achieved thus far in that direction. In addition, the Japanese side took note of the Egyptian proposal to initiate a bilateral cooperation program for training the Egyptian personnel in the field of enhancing industrial productivity.
  8. Both sides reiterated that mutual understanding and respect for other cultures and civilizations are called for more than ever in this rapidly globalizing world. In this connection, both sides reaffirmed the importance of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum which has so far held four meetings, focusing not only on promoting Japan-Arab mutual understanding but also on developing Japan-Arab partnership to combat prejudiced stereotypes and to promote understanding among cultures and civilizations. The two leaders announced that the fifth meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum, along with the Japan-Arab Conference, will be held in Alexandria in November 2007.
  9. As for the Middle East peace process, both sides reaffirmed that ensuring a just and comprehensive solution of the Arab-Israel conflict is one of the keys to achieving stability and prosperity in the Middle East. In this context, the Japanese side reiterated its welcome for the numerous constructive messages delivered at the 19th Arab League Summit in Riyadh on March 29th, which are based on the Arab Peace Initiative and aiming at resolving the Arab-Israel conflict. Both sides expressed their strong hope that, under the principle of co-existence and co-prosperity among all the countries in the region, the Middle East peace process would be resumed as soon as possible. Prime Minister Abe appreciated Egypt's considerable efforts for resolving the impasse and the stalled peace process including its mediation for cessation of violence among the Palestinian groups and for the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier. President Mubarak expressed his appreciation for Japan's active contribution to the Middle East peace process and its assistance for the Palestinian people, and welcomed Japan's initiative for the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity". In the context of this initiative, both sides expressed their hope to expand cooperation in the Palestinian territories for the benefit of the Palestinian people.
  10. As for Lebanon, both sides expressed their strong support for Prime Minister Siniora and his efforts for consolidating democracy and promoting economic structural reform to achieve national reconstruction. The Japanese side highly appreciated the role taken by the Arab League and Egypt for the stability of Lebanon.
  11. Reaffirming the commitment of the two countries to help the Iraqi people achieve their aspirations for a better future, both sides decided to closely coordinate with each other in supporting Iraq in its efforts to achieve stability and territorial integrity and to promote its national unity and equality among all the groups in Iraq. Both sides, in particular, shared the view that national reconciliation is the bedrock for the stabilization of Iraq and underscored the importance of the two ministerial meetings on Iraq which will convene in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. Egypt appreciated Japan's significant contributions including its ODA for the reconstruction and stability of Iraq. Both sides appreciated the tripartite cooperation between Japan and Egypt for Iraq and confirmed to continue such tripartite cooperation.
  12. Both sides stressed the importance of urging all the states in the Middle East to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and making the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means in conformity with relevant internationally legitimate resolutions. In this context, both sides underscored the importance of a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
  13. On the situation regarding the Korean Peninsula, Egypt and Japan concurred that the agreement reached at the Six-Party Talks on 13 February 2007 should be expeditiously implemented by all Parties, especially by North Korea. Both parties expressed hope that progress will be made in the talks between Japan and North Korea on bilateral issues. Egypt stressed the importance of resolving the abduction issue as early as possible, and expressed its willingness to provide continued cooperation on this issue.
  14. As for the Sudan, recognizing the stability of the Sudan is essential to the stability in the region and Africa as a whole, both sides stressed the importance of ensuring the consolidation of peace in the Sudan and agreed to continue their efforts to encourage all concerned parties including the Sudanese government to take steps for stabilizing and improving the situation in Darfur.
  15. Both sides shared the view that the United Nations must be comprehensively reformed to reflect new realities of the 21st century, recognizing the increasingly important roles of the United Nations in promoting world peace, stability and prosperity. Both sides also affirmed cooperation towards renewing and revitalizing the UN organs including the General Assembly, the Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council and Security Council, while particularly underlining the significance of early reform of the Security Council which is an essential element of the UN overall reform. The Egyptian side expressed its continued support for Japan's permanent membership in the Security Council, in the context of a comprehensive package which should include the African interests. The Japanese side expressed its deep appreciation for the support provided by Egypt.
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