- ARAB NEWS
- 26 Apr 2024
Since 1975
Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Following the death of United Arab Emirates’ Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday, Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko has canceled her trip to Kuwait and the UAE. She was due to arrive in Kuwait on Saturday.
Koike, who has close ties with the Arab world, shared condolences on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, expressing her sadness and sympathy for the people of the UAE.
Koike was formerly the Chair of the Japan-UAE Parliamentary Friendship League in Japan and is an Arabic speaker.
“I am very saddened and deeply mourn his loss personally as His Highness had been a friend for many years, going back to when I visited the UAE for the first time in 1974,” she said.
“We shall always remember Sheikh Khalifa’s distinguished accomplishments in furthering friendship and goodwill between Japan and the UAE,” Koike said in a statement.
