Visit to Japan by Mr. Ben Yahia, Foreign Minister of Tunisia

September 28, 2000

1. Mr. Ben Yahia, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tunisia, will visit Japan from 3 (Tue) to 9 (Mon) October as Guest of the Foreign Minister.

2. During his stay in Japan, Mr. Ben Yahia will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, hold talks with Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and meet with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and others concerned with economic cooperation.

3. Relations between Japan and Tunisia have been favorably developing centering on frequent visits by Tunisian VIPs including that of President Ben Ali as a state guest in 1996, and on economic cooperation. The present visit by Foreign Minister Ben Yahia is to confirm and further strengthen those friendly and cooperative relations. Taking the opportunity that Tunisia is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for two years from this year, the two foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on wide-ranging subjects such as U.N. reform, in addition to the international situation including the Middle East peace.

4. Foreign Minister Ben Yahia was Tunisia's first Ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1981. He is known in Tunisia for his extensive knowledge on Japan.

Related Information (Japan-Tunisia Relations)