Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Egypt on Saturday as part of an African tour to discuss regional developments. The Prime Minister will discuss with senior Egyptian officials ways to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields, namely renewable energy, food, agriculture, education, and tourism. The meetings will also address regional and global challenges and the ways to confront them. Japanese Ambassador to Cairo Oka Hiroshi, confirmed that the Japanese Prime Minister's visit comes within the framework of the continued efforts by both countries to achieve sustainable development and regional and international cooperation and to enhance regional security and stability. The ambassador told the MENA news agency that Kishida will start his Middle East and Africa trip with his Egypt visit, reflecting the importance of the relations between the two countries. The visit aims to promote cooperation between the two countries, said Hiroshi, adding that Japan considers Egypt an essential partner in the Middle East and Africa. He said it also comes amid the growing strategic importance of the partnership between the two countries in facing regional, economic, and security challenges. According to the ambassador, bilateral economic relations have witnessed remarkable development recently, as Japan is one of Egypt's most important trade partners. Japan's foreign direct investments in Egypt doubled last year, and Japanese companies seek to explore business opportunities in Egypt. Japan also provides financial and technical support for development projects in Egypt and works to achieve sustainable development. The Japanese ambassador pointed out that Egypt is an essential partner for Japan in the Middle East, as it enjoys a strategic location and has significant natural resources, especially in renewable energy, and a high level of local manpower. He said Egypt is also a gateway to trade and investment in the region. In August last year, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly participated in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit. He affirmed that the African continent is facing "severe economic challenges." During his speech at the summit, Madbouly urged the international community to support African national agricultural policy goals to achieve self-sufficiency and sustainable development. He cautioned against the impact of a food crisis on peace and security. Madbouly also reiterated that real economic development requires boosting peace and security and adopting a comprehensive approach that prevents the recurrence of conflicts.