Press Releases
Meeting between Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Mr. Allafi, Vice President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya
January 24, 2024
On January 24, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Abdullah Allafi, Vice President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya, during his visit to Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. H.E. Mr. Aymen Seifennaser, a member of the House of Representatives, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Oun, Minister of Oil and Gas, and H.E. Mr. Eltaher Elbaour, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also participated in the meeting from the Libyan side. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa expressed her appreciation for the cordial message of sympathy from H.E. Mr. Mohammad Younes Menfi, President of the Presidential Council, following the damage of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Minister Kamikawa welcomed the reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Libya for the first time in approximately ten years, as well as the timely visit to Japan by Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi for revitalizing the bilateral relationship. In response, Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi reiterated his condolences and sympathy for the damages caused by the earthquake, and stated that he would like to cooperate in various areas with the Embassy of Japan, which resumed its operation in Tripoli.
- Regarding the situation in Libya, Minister Kamikawa highly appreciated Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi’s national reconciliation. She expressed her expectations for political stability in Libya through elections and the establishment of a unified government, and expressed Japan’s intention to support stability in Libya. In response, Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi explained the role and efforts of the Presidential Council for further stabilizing Libya through national reconciliation and elections.
- The two sides concurred on revitalizing the bilateral relationship building upon the reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Libya, especially in the following areas.
- High-level reciprocal visits and political consultations
The two sides concurred to revitalize people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including high-level reciprocal visits, and hold regular political consultations in accordance with the 2012 Memorandum on Political Consultations between the two countries. - Economic cooperation
Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan would explore possibilities for further cooperation, mentioning that Japan has provided stabilization and nation-building support for Libya totaling USD 72 million since 2010, including assistance for governance areas, such as elections, and women and children in conflict situations, as well as ongoing cooperation for human resource development involving the public and private sectors, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In response, Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi expressed gratitude for Japan’s assistance and expressed his expectations for expanded cooperation. - Economic relations
Vice President of the Presidential Council Allafi explained about the stabilization of the security situation in Libya and expressed his expectations for the revitalization of their economic relationship, including the entry of Japanese companies into Libya.
- High-level reciprocal visits and political consultations
- The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation in the international arena, the situation in East Asia, the situation in the Middle East, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, climate change, among other matters.