Staff Writer

Japan would be a good broker in any Middle East conflict as the country has “no negative footprint in history,” Defense Minister Taro Kono said on Monday at the launch event of the Arab News Japan. 

Regarding trade between Japan and the Middle East, he said: “We import a lot of oil and export a lot of Toyota, but I think our relations need to go beyond that.”

The former foreign minister told the audience at the launch event that the Middle East and Japan “share common values,” adding: “We have a high respect for elders, and we think family is very important … To me we are friends, and I think we need to work together.”

Kono said: “We need to know what people in the Middle East are actually thinking, what is happening on a daily basis.” To that end, “Arab News is going to start news in Japanese.”

He thanked Arab News for coming to Japan, saying the news website will be a very good platform to exchange information. 

He described the launch of the Japan edition as “the beginning of a new era,” adding: “With the enthronement ceremony taking place, there can be no better way to start this endeavor. So welcome Arab News.”