Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Yuichiro Tamaki, the leader of Japan’s Democratic Party for the People (DPP), says Japan will strengthen efforts to ensure food supplies to countries affected by the war in Ukraine.

“A lot of Ukrainian wheat and other food products are exported to many different countries, including Middle Eastern countries,” Tamaki pointed out. “We believe that it is necessary to strengthen assistance to countries that have been greatly affected.”

Tamaki, who has close connections to Arab countries, was giving speeches in Tokyo supporting candidates for his allied Tokyo Citizens First Party in the upcoming House of Councillors election on July 10. He gave an exclusive statement to Arab News Japan after his speech in the ritzy Ginza district on Sunday afternoon.

With regard to assistance from global institutions, he said: “Since the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) through IMF has been given to some extent, Japan will prioritize this and strengthen our support for affected countries, especially Arab and African countries. I think such combined assistances will lead to an earlier end to this war.”

“Japan will play a leading role in the international community and support developing countries as well as Arab countries. We would like to strengthen our efforts and enhance our support.”

Japan will have an election on July 10, but it is unlikely to change the power balance in the country and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is likely to retain its strong power base in the Parliament.