Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Ahmed Abu Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, made history by paying a courtesy visit to the newly opened Palestinian Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday evening, becoming the first high-ranking Arab official to do so.

Palestinian Ambassador Waleed Siam and accompanying diplomats, warmly welcomed Abul Gheit and guided him through the four-story building in central Tokyo’s Minato district.

The Arab League Secretary-General expressed his admiration, telling Arab News Japan that he hoped the newly opened embassy would significantly contribute to the rise of the Palestinian state and the Palestinian people’s rightful struggle.

The Palestine Embassy building is in a neighborhood known in Tokyo as the Embassy Zone, where the embassies of Qatar, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Finland, South Korea, and Germany are also located.

Abul Gheit was accompanied by the Arab League Assistant Secretary, Ambassador Hossam Zaki. They received Palestinian-produced dates during the visit and learned about the history of the embassy building which has a hall for events such as press conferences.

Abul Gheit asked Ambassador Siam to convey his regards to Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority.

Earlier in the day, Abul Gheit met Minister KONO Taro and the Foreign Affairs Committee where he expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s support of the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution, while also praising the country’s continued assistance to the Palestinian people.

Secretary General Aboul Gheit presided over the Japan-Arab Economic Forum held on July 11 and 12 in Tokyo.