Tokyo: Japan appreciates and fully supports the United States’ diplomatic efforts on the Israeli-Palestinian situation, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

Kamikawa and Blinken held bilateral talks on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major countries in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The two agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas from spreading in the Middle East.

Kamikawa stressed that close cooperation between Japan and the United States is important at a time when the international community is facing various challenges.

Blinken expressed his eagerness to work closely with Kamikawa to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

They also reaffirmed their countries’ cooperation over China’s growing assertiveness in the East and South China Seas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Also on Tuesday, Blinken visited Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime minister’s office.

Kishida told Blinken that he highly values the diplomatic efforts and leadership of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on the Palestinian situation.

Kishida noted that Japan will cooperate with the United States to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and bring about a humanitarian ceasefire.

JIJI Press