Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan co-hosted a working-level online meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) in conjunction with the Palestinian Authority on Thursday to discuss humanitarian assistance for Gaza and other matters.

Among the issues discussed were the mid- to long-term issues such as early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, reform of the Palestinian Authority and fiscal challenges.

The participants agreed on the importance of coordination and cooperation through CEAPAD at a time when Palestine needs more assistance in view of the conflict and destruction in Gaza. 

The meeting participants included ANDO Toshihide, Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of Japan’s Foreign Ministry; Dr. Wael Zakout, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Palestine; Dr. Bassel Al Kafarna, Minister of State for Emergency Relief of Palestine; and Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of Palestine.

Others attending included representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the World Bank, UNDP, OCHA, UNRWA and the Islamic Development Bank. At the meeting, Cambodia and Lao PDR became official members of CEAPAD.

CEAPAD was initiated by Japan in 2013 to support Palestinian state-building efforts by drawing on the resources, knowledge and experiences of East Asian countries.