Press Conferences

Mr. Norio Maruyama, Foreign Press Secretary: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the UAE, will visit Japan from April 21 to 24.

During Minister Abdullah’s visit, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida is to hold a meeting with him and discuss bilateral relations and regional and international situations.

In addition, during his stay, Minister Abdullah will have an imperial audience with H.I.H the Crown Prince of Japan.

Minister Abdullah's visit to Japan is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. It is also expected that the visit will deepen the political dialogue with the UAE, a state that serves as a stabilizing force in the Middle East and which possesses considerable influence in regional affairs, in a wide range of areas including regional affairs and security, while also enhancing Japan's Middle East policies.

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: Mr. José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO, will visit Japan from May 9 to 12.

During his stay in Japan, Director-General Graziano da Silva will meet with government officials and other relevant stakeholders, as well as on May 10, give a public talk and job seminar at Sophia University, and attend the Fukushima Sweets Tasting Event hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the announcement of FAO’s National Goodwill Ambassadors to Japan. On May 11, Director-General Graziano da Silva will visit a site designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

Japan places importance on the work of FAO being the leading UN specialized agency in the field of food and agriculture. As the second largest contributor of FAO’s assessed contributions, Japan has been working to strengthen its relationship with FAO. Following the first Japan-FAO Annual Strategic Consultation held in January this year, the visit to Japan by Director-General Graziano da Silva is expected to further advance the Japan-FAO relationship.

Gezi, Asahi Shimbun: I would like to ask about Minister Abdullah's visit to Japan. You stated that bilateral relations and regional and international situations will be discussed. Could you please provide a little more detail about what specifically is planned for discussion?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: This visit to Japan is considered extremely important as Minister Abdullah is the leading young member of the royal family who supports H.H. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed, who is serving as the de facto President in place of the incumbent President, who is currently recuperating from an illness.

Considering the central role Minister Abdullah plays in the diplomatic efforts of the UAE, and the fact that the UAE has come to serve as a liaison among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), we would like to deepen the political dialogue in a wide range of areas. Especially with regard to the regional situation, the UAE in particular places importance on values similar to Japan's, such as “going in the Middle” and “tolerance.” In this regard, Japan appreciates the UAE’s initiatives in this region and the international arena, and we would like to take advantage of this opportunity to further enhance cooperation.