Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko had a meeting and working dinner on Friday with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the two ministers conducted a signing ceremony for a “Memorandum of Cooperation for a Reinforced Partnership”.

Among the topics discussed was Western Sahara, with Kamikawa noting the Moroccan proposal presented to the UN Secretary-General on April 11, 2007. She welcomed serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward toward a resolution of the Western Sahara issue and the Moroccan Foreign Minister welcomed her remarks.

The two ministers exchanged views on regional situations, including the situation in the Middle East, in the Sahel region and coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, and the situation in East Asia, including North Korea. 

They also discussed cooperation in the international arena, such as strengthening the functions of the United Nations, including Security Council reform, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). They confirmed cooperation under the frameworks of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum and TICAD.

Kamikawa stated that the two countries enjoy historically friendly relations based on the friendship of the Imperial and Royal families. She also expressed her desire to further strengthen bilateral relations as partners who have cooperated in diverse areas. 

Foreign Minister Bourita expressed his appreciation for the hospitality of the Japanese government and expressed his hope that the “Memorandum of Cooperation for a Reinforced Partnership” with Japan would be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties in a wide range of fields, including politics and security, the economy, renewable energy, and food security.