Countries & Regions
Visit to Middle East by Foreign Minister Kishida(Jordan, July 25)
During his tour of the Middle East, in the Kingdom of Jordan on July 25, Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, was granted an audience to King Abdullah II paid courtesy calls on Prince Hassan (former Crown Prince) and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, and conferred with Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. An overview of the meetings is as follows:
Bilateral Relations
King Abdullah II and other Jordanian leaders expressed their deep gratitude to Japan for its varieties of assistance to their country. The king said he hopes to visit Japan and Minister Kishida welcomed this.
Minister Kishida voiced his appreciation of Jordan's efforts to push forward its reforms, which have been providing a model for reforms in the region. He expressed his hopes that the country will actively continue with its reforms, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic program, despite the difficulties involved. Prime Minister Ensour and other leaders replied that Jordan is committed to the economic reforms, including the IMF program.
After explaining Japan's position on international nuclear cooperation, Minister Kishida told King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Ensour that he believes Japan could contribute to Jordan's plan to build a nuclear power plant.
Regional Situation
(1) Situation in Syria
Foreign Minister Judeh said that the Syrian situation is deteriorating day by day, adding that assistance from international community is extremely important and is urgently needed.
Minister Kishida told his Jordanian counterpart that he will be visiting Zaatari refugee camp on the following day. He highly appraised the active role played by Jordan for peace and stability in the region, especially the opening of its border for Syrian refugees despite its own fiscal difficulties. The foreign minister noted that the Japanese government had pledged yen loans that worth 120 million U.S. dollars to Jordan in June this year.
(2) Middle East Peace
Prime Minister Ensour and other Jordanian leaders expressed their view that the root of the various destabilizing factors in the Middle East is the unresolved conflict between Israel and Palestine, stressing anew Jordan's emphasis on a two-state solution. The Jordanian leaders said that they appreciate Japan's efforts for Middle East peace and confirmed with Minister Kishida that the two countries will continue cooperation for peace through the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative as well as other means.
Welcoming the signs of the resumption of direct peace negotiations, Minister Kishida said he highly appreciates the role played by Jordan. He thanked Jordan for its participation in the Fourth Ministerial-Level Meeting of the Four-Party Consultative Unit for the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity initiative which was held on July 25, and told the Jordanian leaders that Japan will actively continue with its unique efforts for peace, including the initiative and the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD).
* On July 26, the foreign minister is to visit a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.
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