Meeting between Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr.Abdul-Karim Ismael Al-Arhabi, Deputy Premier and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Republic of Yemen

April 22, 2008

On April 21 (Mon.), H.E. Mr. Abdul-Karim Ismael Al-Arhabi, Deputy Premier and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Yemen, who is currently visiting Japan, met with Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 11:40 to 12:05.
Mr. Koumura expressed his appreciation for Yemen’s active support for Japan in the international arena. In response, Mr. Al-Arhabi stated that Japan had always been a reliable partner for development, and that he appreciated Japan’s support for Yemen. He wished to further develop the bilateral relations.
Mr. Al-Arhabi gave an account of various problems Yemen is facing in its development. Also he stated that Yemen’s stability would lead to the stabilization of the region; and in this context, that as the international community and member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were helping Yemen, he would also like Japan to continue support for it. In response, Mr. Koumura stated that Japan would assist Yemen’s efforts for development mainly in three important fields: namely basic education/vocational training; rural water supply; and health/medication, the fields which directly benefit the people of Yemen.

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