Diana Farah

RIYADH: Japan’s Deputy Press Secretary OKANO Yukiko told Arab News Japan that Saudi-Iran’s newfound relation, and the Palestinian-Israeli tensions were topics highlighted during Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa’s visit to the Middle East.

Okano gave a press briefing in Riyadh on Thursday, highlighting Japanese Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa’s talks with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, as well as other GCC leaders.

With Saudi Arabia and Iran’s new agreement, brokered by China, Japan said it welcomed the move.

“We see that the move was very welcome. I understand that countries concerned, have put so much efforts and making this happen, be it China or other countries, I think there was momentum for that,” the Deputy Press Secretary told Arab News Japan.

She added: “Japan has also been very active in engaging with the Arab countries over the years, and we want to make use of our friendship and the friendly and cordial relations with those countries to as I said, establish peace in the Middle East.”

Okano said that Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio’s visit helped Japan gain momentum in strengthening its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

“Our foreign minister has been wanting to come here since he took office in October two years ago. And coming to the Middle East was one of his top priorities,” she explained.

After Kishida’s visit, Japan can push forward the relationship between the Kingdom and itself to move towards cooperation in decarbonization and green energy.

The Japanese official also stated that Japan is looking into what kind of concrete cooperation it could have with Saudi Arabia in regard to military collaboration. The two nations recently agreed to promote military cooperation.

As the UAE and Japan have a defense equipment transfer agreement, Okano said it could be the way forward with Saudi Arabia as well, with many more possibilities on the table.

The deputy press secretary told Arab News Japan that there was serious concern over the escalating tensions in Israel and Palestine.

“Through UNRWA and other international organizations, we are trying to help the refugee issues,” she said. “When Israel announced on the new plan for the settlement, we issued press secretary statement to show our deep concern for that move and call on parties to have dialogue.”

At the Japan-Arab dialogue in Egypt, the Palestine issue was quite heavily discussed, Okano said.

She added that Hayashi had a “very brief talk with his Palestinian counterpart at that event,” to express Japan’s support of a two-state solution.

Hayashi concluded his Middle East trip on Sept. 7 in Saudi Arabia and departed to Poland.