Press Releases
Meeting between Foreign Minister Iwaya and GCC Secretary General Budaiwi
July 7, 2025
On July 7th, from 10:20 a.m. for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who is visiting Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- At the outset, Minister Iwaya welcomed Secretary General Al Budaiwi's visit to Japan, stating that the GCC countries are playing an increasingly important role in the turbulent regional and international situation, and that Japan wishes to further deepen cooperation towards realizing peace and stability in the region and the international community. In response, Secretary General Al Budaiwi stated that the GCC also attaches importance to its relationship with Japan, and extended an invitation for a Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
- Minister Iwaya conveyed Japan's hope that the GCC countries will continue to play a leading role in stabilizing the global oil market amid the increasingly unstable situation in the Middle East. He also expressed his hope for strengthening cooperation in a wide range of political and economic fields between the two sides, including the early conclusion of the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, in which the second round of negotiations after the resumption of negotiations was held last week. Secretary General Al Budaiwi shared the hope for the early conclusion of the EPA and stated that he wishes to steadily advance cooperation in a wide range of fields in accordance with the Japan-GCC Action Plan.
- Both sides exchanged candid views on the situation in the Middle East, including the situation on Israel and Iran, the situation in the Gaza Strip, and the situation in Syria. Minister Iwaya stated that Japan will continue to make all necessary diplomatic effort to ensure that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran is steadily implemented and that avenues for dialogue are reopened. Secretary General Al Budaiwi stated that dialogue among the countries concerned is important for regional stability, and that the GCC will continue to work to promote dialogue. Both sides also shared concerns about acts that threaten freedom of navigation and attacks on oil facilities, and confirmed close cooperation between Japan and the GCC for peace and stability in the Middle East.