Arab News Japan

TOKYO: FUKAZAWA Yoichi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from participants of the “Seventh Dialogue on Countering Violent Extremism in the Middle East” on Friday and said Japan shares with Islam a spirit that emphasizes “harmony” and “tolerance.”

Fukazawa added that Japan will continue to contribute to peace and prosperity in the international community by countering violent extremism, an issue shared by the Middle East and Japan. He pointed out Japan’s good relations with countries in the Middle East.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the participants expressed gratitude for the invitation to Japan. They said they hope to utilize the knowledge they have gained during their visit and expect Japan to contribute to countering violent extremism.

The delegation included Saeed Al-Jyashy, Strategic Affairs Advisor, National Security Advisory (Iraq), Tarek Ladjal, Advisor, Sawt Al-Hikma Center for Countering the Extreme Narratives (OIC); Rafat Al-Shdefat, Major, Head of the Center for Human Rights, Public Security Directorate (Jordan); and Mariam Hamid, Translator Specialist, Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (Egypt.)

The ministry noted that this dialogue on countering violent extremism in the Middle East remains a common issue for Japan and that part of the world, despite the different cultural, ideological, and social backgrounds between the two sides.

Japan has conducted annual meetings since 2018 with experts on what it called “countering violent extremism in the Middle East,” as part of the “intellectual and human contribution” announced at the first Japan-Arab Political Dialogue in September 2018.