Intensifying the dialogues and exchanges with the Islamic world
March 24, 2003
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan
Note: Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in her statement of March 20, 2003 titled "Toward peace and stability in the Middle East," (*) spoke of "stronger relationship with the Islamic world" as one of the three pillars of the Japanese efforts for the peace and stability in the region. This material intends to provide you with more detailed information in this regard.
Japan will continue and strengthen dialogue with the Islamic world in order to deepen people-to-people understanding between Japan and the countries in the Middle East and to build and maintain stable relationship. Japan will thus promote measures as follows:
1. The Ministry will intensify the efforts for "the dialogue among civilizations," following and based on "Kono Initiative," by means of the actions mentioned as below, along with the programs of youth exchanges, women exchanges, and cultural grant aid.
(1) Seminars with intellectuals from Japan and Islamic countries (Seminar on "Dialogue among Civilizations")
The first seminar was held in Bahrain, March 2002; the second will be held in Tokyo (once planned in this March but postponed); and the third in Tehran.
(2) Islamic Study Group
The Ministry has been holding numbers of study group meetings with Islam specialists in Japan since March 2000.
2. The Japan Foundation
The Japan Foundation will build up a variety of cultural and academic exchanges with the Middle East by introducing new activities, whose gist is as follows:
(1) Programs for the promotion of intellectual exchange with the Middle East
(a) Holding of intellectual exchange seminars and conferences
(b) Fellowship for next generation
(c) Introduction of the Islamic studies in Japan to abroad
(2) Programs for the promotion of cultural cooperation and youth exchange with the Middle East
(a) Support for the preservation of cultural heritage
(b) Youth exchange programs between Japan and the Middle East countries.
(3) Programs for deeper understanding in Japan concerning the Middle East
(invitation of groups of performing arts or organisation of film festivals are examples.)
* See http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2003/3/0320-2.html
Back to Index