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Japan-Egypt Relations
(as of July 2005) Japan-Egypt : Bilateral Political
Relations (as of July 2005)
Japan and Egypt have traditionally enjoyed cordial relations.
Considering Egypt to be a very important country for the stability
of the Middle East, Japan regards Japan-Egypt relation as one of
the pillars of its diplomacy in the region.
In
November 2004, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura visited Egypt
to attend the Meeting of the Neighboring Countries of Iraq, G8 and
China in Sharm El-Sheikh. Mr. Machimura exchanged views with
participants including Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit
on such issues as how to secure stability in Iraq.
In
May 2003, Prime Minister Koizumi visited Egypt and held talks
with President Mubarak. The leaders exchanged discussed the
reconstruction of Iraq and peace process in the Middle East, and
agreed to promote cooperation between Japan and Egypt in providing
assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq in such fields as
medical services. They also agreed to establish a Japan-Arab
Dialogue Forum comprising business people and experts with a view
to strengthening collaboration between Japan and the Arab
countries.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi visited Egypt in
October 2003 and held talks with leaders of Egyptian
government to expand further bilateral relations and cooperation
at a multilateral level. In addition, agreements for economic and
cultural cooperation with Japan were signed by both governments.
At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoriko
Kawaguchi,
the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Egypt Fayza Mohamed
Abou Al-Naga visited Japan in December 2002. The visit aimed
to consolidate the excellent relations between the two countries
and explore ways and means for higher levels of cooperation and
partnership.
In October 2001, Prime Minister's Special Envoy former Prime
Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, on his visit to Egypt, held
meetings with President Mubarak of Egypt and Secretary General Amr
Moussa of the League of Arab States, and attended
the ceremony of the completion of the Suez Canal Bridge along
with President Mubarak. Former Prime Minister Hashimoto also met
with prominent members of the Egyptian government.
Former Japanese
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura visited Egypt in February 2000
as head of a mission to facilitate the enforcement of the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Mr. Koumura enjoyed fruitful
discussions with President Mubarak.
President Mubarak visited Japan in
April 1999, when former Prime Minister Obuchi and President
Mubarak decided to adopt the "Japan-Egypt
Joint Statement" in order to increase and diversify bilateral
consultations and cooperation on global, regional and bilateral
issues with emphasis on such important issues as peace, economy,
environment, cultural exchange, and education.
President Mubarak's visit to Japan in March 1995 was especially
significant, since it laid the foundations for a new phase in the
development of bilateral relations. Prime Minister Tomiichi
Murayama's visit to Egypt in September 1995 resulted in an
agreement on the strengthening of Japan-Egypt relations to
contribute to peace in the Middle East.
Since President Mubarak's visit to Japan in 1983, bilateral
relations have steadily developed through increased political,
economic, and cultural exchange between the two countries. |
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