Press Releases

1. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. ANDO Toshihide, Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and H.E. Dr. Wael Zakout, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Palestine, with the attendance of Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of Palestine. This round of meeting was held with participation of Japan (host), Palestine (co-host), Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, World Bank, UNRWA,Islamic Development Bank, and Office of the Quartet.The objective of the meeting is to discuss assistance to the Palestinians from Asian countries. 　
2. At the meeting, Minister Zakout briefed the participants on the Palastinian plan in post-ceasefire Gaza and outlook for the future rebuilding. The participants reaffirmed their readiness to support the Palestinian effort and collaborate in various ways by utilizing their own strengths in order to contribute to humanitarian assistance and recovery and reconstruction efforts as well as to peace and stability in the medium- to long-term, based on discussions at the working-level online meetings last year.
3. The participants concurred in coordinating to hold a CEAPAD Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia at an appropriate time this year.

[Note]
CEAPAD is a regional conference framework initiated by Japan in 2013 to support the Palestinian state-building efforts by drawing on resources, knowledge, and experiences of economic development of the East Asian countries.