She affirmed Japan’s commitment to support the two-state solution as the only way to achieve peace. She pointed out that Japan has provided $230 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank since Oct 7, 2023, in addition to long-term programs that support the Palestinian Authority in the areas of governance, agriculture, and the development of small and medium-sized industries. She said Japan continues to call on all parties to de-escalate and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, stressing that Tokyo has urged Israel to abide by international law and international humanitarian law.

She explained that Japan, while deeply concerned about the high civilian casualties, does not describe the situation as “genocide” due to the lack of confirmed information. She added that Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Takeshi Iwaya’s visit to Kuwait is within the framework of participating in the second joint ministerial meeting between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). She revealed the purpose of the visit is to strengthen relations between Japan and the GCC countries, as well as bilateral relations. She stated Minister Iwaya met with His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah before attending the ministerial meeting hosted by Kuwait, which holds the current presidency of the GCC.

She went on to say that such meetings are considered an important opportunity to discuss political, security and economic issues amid turbulent international conditions. She emphasized that Japan and the GCC countries, especially Kuwait, share fundamental values and principles and seek to enhance cooperation at the bilateral and international levels within multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations. She revealed that Japan relies heavily on oil imports from the Gulf countries, appreciating Kuwait’s contribution as one of the leading exporters, ranking third, in the crude oil supply of Japan.

She confirmed Tokyo’s commitment to support efforts of Kuwait in the green transformation and economic diversification, indicating that Japanese companies possess advanced technology in the fields of water desalination and electricity, thereby contributing to securing stable supplies to the region. She also announced that political dialogue between the two countries on these issues resumed after a five-year hiatus, adding that bilateral relations between Japan and Kuwait are expanding in various fields. She said the Japanese people remember with gratitude the valuable support provided by Kuwait after the 2011 earthquake.

“Kuwaiti aid contributed to the operation of the first train in the affected areas, and it continues to operate today as a symbol of friendship between the two peoples. The two countries, as maritime nations, agree on the importance of freedom of maritime navigation and ensuring the security and stability of global trade routes, which are the bases for cooperation at the regional and international levels,” she concluded.