Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko, who is on a visit to Türkiye, held separate talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday, during which they discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Kamikawa and Fidan had a working dinner and agreed to work together to try and reduce tensions in the Gaza Strip, which is under military attack from Israel.

According to the foreign ministry in Tokyo, the two ministers also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and international situations, including the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the East Asia situation. They agreed to work together toward the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine.

Kamikawa expressed her gratitude for the Turkish government’s message of condolences and offer of assistance following the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year’s Day.

Looking back on developments since bilateral relations between Japan and Türkiye were upgraded to the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2013, Kamikawa noted that this year is the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries and she would like to mark that anniversary by intensifying high-level visits and consultations. 

The two ministers confirmed that they will work together on important bilateral issues, such as the early conclusion of negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Social Security Agreement and the opening of the Turkish-Japanese University of Science and Technology. They also covered the possibility of cooperation in areas such as the energy sector and strengthening ties between Japanese and Turkish companies in third countries, such as Central Asia and Africa.

Kamikawa congratulated President Erdoğan on the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye last year and on his re-election as president. She also expressed her gratitude for the Turkish Government’s condolences and offer of assistance following the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

She also pointed out the importance of Türkiye’s role in various important issues in the international community, such as the situation in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip.