Middle East

1. At the outset, H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and Chair of the GCC for this year, welcomed the participation of Minister IWAYA in the meeting on behalf of the GCC. He stated that the GCC is ready to strengthen cooperation with Japan across all fields and expressed his desire to engage in discussions toward that goal.
2. In response, Minister IWAYA noted that the GCC is playing an increasingly vital role in ensuring regional stability and emphasized the growing importance of cooperation between Japan and the GCC, including in humanitarian and development fields. He also expressed Japan’s intention to collaborate with the GCC in areas such as clean energy and materials, advanced technologies, academia and culture, and agriculture. Furthermore, he called for cooperation with GCC member states toward the implementation of the “Indian Ocean–Africa Economic Corridor Initiative,” which was proposed by H.E. Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan at TICAD 9 under the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),”.
3. H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, stated that Japan-GCC relations have steadily deepened in recent years. He emphasized that Japan and the GCC, which both value human dignity and maritime security, have great potential for further cooperation. He also expressed the GCC’s intention to advance ongoing negotiations on the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), while strengthening collaboration in fields such as the digital economy, AI, finance, and agriculture.

1. Representatives from participating countries engaged in a frank exchange of views on regional and international affairs.
2. The GCC representatives shared their perspectives on the current situation in the Middle East and the efforts being undertaken by their respective countries to resolve various issues. They expressed appreciation and recognition for Japan’s contributions to Palestine and Syria and its consistent support for a “Two-State solution.” They also conveyed their expectation for Japan to play a more proactive role in stabilizing the Middle East and expressed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Japan.
3. Minister IWAYA emphasized the need to further enhance collaboration with GCC countries to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue, improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and achieve a complete cessation of attacks by the Houthis in Yemen. He also expressed Japan’s intention to work closely with relevant countries, including GCC member states, toward realizing a “Two-State solution.” Additionally, under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” initiative proposed by Japan, he expressed his hope to continue working with the GCC countries to ensure the freedom and safety of navigation along key maritime routes vital to the global supply chain.

Minister IWAYA once again expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the representatives of GCC countries, including Kuwait, as well as by the Secretary General of the GCC. He underlined the importance of upholding the rule of law and multilateralism in today’s turbulent international environment and expressed his hope for the early conclusion of the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, as well as for further exchanges to deepen mutual understanding.
Following this, Minister Al-Yahya of Kuwait expressed his gratitude to all participating countries and stakeholders, including Japan, for attending the meeting.

Following the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Minister IWAYA attended a lunch with representatives of the GCC member states.