Japanese PM affirms Japan’s eagerness to deepen ties with Arab countries CAIRO: On Sunday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit met with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Cairo. The two discussed regional and global issues and participated in a plenary session in the presence of the permanent representatives of the Arab League. The Japanese prime minister said his country is keen on increasing cooperation with all Arab countries, referencing his signing of the Arab-Japanese agreement, which aims to achieve comprehensive economic, cultural, and political cooperation. In order to build upon this cooperation, Kishida added that he agreed with the secretary-general of the League of Arab States during their bilateral meeting to hold the third Japanese-Arab political dialogue next September. He also discussed the Japanese-Arab Economic Forum. In light of present global challenges, Kishida said Japan is eager to create more opportunities for solidarity and cooperation with the countries of the Arab region in order to preserve the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as affirm the principles of the UN Charter. Ambassador Mohammed Arfi, permanent representative of Egypt to the League of Arab States, said that Japan remains a friendly country to all Arabs, referring to its positions, which have always been balanced and objective on Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause. During his speech, Arfi said that it was Egypt’s aspiration, as well as that of the Arab League, that this visit would witness the consolidation of Arab-Japanese relations, especially considering current conditions in the region and international political and economic transformations. The Japanese PM will be visiting Egypt for three days, his first destination on a larger tour aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional and international peace and security. Kishida is scheduled to travel to Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Singapore after finishing his current visit to Egypt. He will depart Cairo for the Ghanaian capital of Accra before flying on the same day to Nairobi, Kenya. He will arrive in Maputo, Mozambique, on May 3 and after a summit meeting there, he will depart for Singapore on May 4.