jordan pulse -

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Ayman Safadi, and his Japanese counterpart, Hayashi Yoshimasa, held the third round of strategic dialogue between the two friendly countries, in which Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zina Toukan participated.

Safadi and his Japanese counterpart discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and increase coordination on regional and international issues of common concern.

Safadi, who is visiting Touqan, Japan for extensive talks with Japanese officials, in preparation for the visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II next month, stressed the importance of holding the third round of the strategic dialogue in strengthening the historical Jordanian-Japanese friendship. Al-Safadi and Hayashi affirmed the two countries' keenness to strengthen their relations and expand cooperation in various fields, pointing to the growing cooperation between the two friendly countries within the framework of the strategic partnership that brings them together.

The two ministers agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields, politically, economically, security and culturally, and they discussed many regional and international issues of common interest.

They stressed the need to maintain the positive momentum in the bilateral relations between the two countries, by continuing to hold rounds of strategic dialogue and exchanging high-level visits.

Hayashi stressed that his country values the Kingdom's role as a major partner in the region and will continue to provide economic and development support to it, especially in the water and energy sectors. In this context, he referred to the projects implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Kingdom, and pointed out that Japanese support to Jordan reached $1.8 billion between 2009 and 2022.

Al-Safadi appreciated the continuous support provided by Japan to Jordan to assist in economic development efforts and to face the repercussions of regional crises on it.

During the meeting, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zina Toukan reviewed the economic cooperation programs between Jordan and Japan, and explained the measures taken by the Kingdom to develop the investment environment and stimulate economic growth. Toukan spoke about the vision of economic modernization and the economic and administrative reform programs adopted by the Kingdom to develop economic performance and improve the investment environment.

Toukan stressed the importance of the soft loan of $110 million that Japan provided to Jordan to support the electricity sector reform program last December, which was part of the Japanese government’s pledges at the London Conference of 2019 to provide total financing in the form of soft loans of $300 million during the period ( 2021-2023).

In addition, Hayashi praised the great role played by the Kingdom in hosting refugees, especially Syrian refugees. In this context, Hayashi affirmed that Japan will continue to support the refugees, pointing out that his country has provided, during the past year, support of about $10.44 million for refugees through international organizations, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Refugee Affairs (UNHCR).

Al-Safadi stressed the importance of the support provided by Japan to the refugees. He said that providing a decent life for refugees and meeting their needs is an international responsibility and not only the responsibility of the host countries, warning of the consequences of the decline in international support for refugees and host countries.

Al-Safadi and Hayashi reaffirmed the promotion of the principle of sharing international burdens and responsibilities towards refugees. They also discussed the joint efforts of the two countries in organizing the Global Refugee Forum for the year 2023, which aims to highlight the need to maintain sustainable support for refugees and host countries.

The two ministers also welcomed the continued strengthening of defense and security cooperation between the two countries, noting the importance of the first training course on the non-combat evacuation of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, which was held in the Kingdom last December. Safadi and his Japanese counterpart agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and combating terrorism, including through the Aqaba meetings.

The two ministers also welcomed academic cooperation between the two countries, through cultural exchange programs between Jordanian and Japanese universities.

Al-Safadi and his Japanese counterpart discussed several regional and international issues of common interest, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause and efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.

Al-Safadi briefed his Japanese counterpart on the Kingdom's efforts to stop the deterioration in the occupied Palestinian territories and to find a real political horizon to re-launch serious and effective negotiations to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

Al-Safadi stressed the need to stop the illegal Israeli measures that fuel violence and undermine the two-state solution, which represents the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace.

Hayashi appreciated the Kingdom's efforts aimed at de-escalation and finding a political horizon to achieve a just and comprehensive peace, pointing to the importance of the Aqaba meeting recently hosted by the Kingdom in that context. The Japanese Foreign Minister stressed the importance of the role of the Hashemite Custodianship over the holy sites in Jerusalem. He stressed that Japan will continue to support efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace, including through the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative.

Al-Safadi stressed the importance of Japanese positions and efforts in efforts to reactivate the peace process, and appreciated Japan's position in support of the two-state solution.

The two ministers exchanged views on the Syrian crisis, where Safadi presented his Japanese counterpart with the image of the Jordanian initiative aimed at finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, according to a step-by-step methodology, through direct Arab-Syrian involvement.

The two ministers affirmed solidarity with those affected by the recent earthquake in the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Turkey by providing humanitarian aid and cooperating in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Al-Safadi stressed that the Kingdom will continue to send all it can of medical and relief aid to the two brotherly countries to help them face the repercussions of the earthquake, in implementation of the royal directives.

The two ministers also agreed to support regional cooperation, including tripartite consultations between Jordan, Japan and Egypt.
Al-Safadi briefed Hayashi on the latest developments related to the Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi tripartite cooperation mechanism, and the cooperation projects agreed upon by the three countries within its framework.

The two ministers discussed the Ukrainian crisis, its regional and international repercussions, and the efforts exerted to deal with it. Al-Safadi affirmed Jordan's position calling for stopping the war and resolving the crisis in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter and the principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

The Japanese foreign minister also briefed Safadi on the situation in East Asia, including developments related to China and North Korea and Japan's vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific". Al-Safadi expressed the Kingdom's support for Japan in its efforts to resolve outstanding issues with North Korea, including the issue of the Japanese abductees.

The two ministers agreed to continue the meetings and to hold the fourth round of the strategic dialogue with the aim of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and creating more prospects for cooperation.

They also agreed to continue coordination on regional and international issues of common concern, and to work together to achieve stability, security and peace in the Middle East region.

Safadi thanked Minister Hayashi for the in-depth and fruitful talks they had and for the kind hospitality during his official visit to Japan.

In addition, the Japanese Institute for Middle East Research hosted Safadi, in a dialogue session in the presence of the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zina Toukan, the president and members of the institute, and a number of political, diplomatic and academic figures. In the session, Safadi reviewed Jordanian policies and positions on regional issues, and the efforts made by the Kingdom to achieve security, peace and stability in the region.

Safadi and Toukan met with Yamada Junichi, Executive Vice President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in a meeting to discuss ways to enhance cooperation prospects between the two friendly countries in many fields.

Al-Safadi appreciated the Agency's continuous support for the economic and development programs that Jordan is working to implement.

Toukan and Junichi discussed projects supported and funded by the Agency in Jordan, and presented many other economic, tourism and educational projects that the Kingdom and Japan could cooperate in implementing.

Al-Safadi met with the Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Motegi Toshimitsu, in a meeting that confirmed the depth of Jordanian-Japanese relations, and discussed ways to enhance them in various fields, in a way that serves the common interests of the two friendly countries. During the meeting, they also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.

Safadi and Toukan also held talks with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi, which focused on ways to strengthen economic cooperation relations and find new investment opportunities, in addition to the steps that the two countries can take to increase trade exchange between the two friendly countries.

During the visit, Safadi met with Japanese Minister of Digital Transformation Taro Kono, and discussed with him opportunities to increase cooperation and exchange of experiences in the fields of communications, information technology, innovation and digital transformation, in a way that serves common development interests.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Ayman Safadi, will continue his meetings with Japanese officials tomorrow, in the presence of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zina Toukan, and he will talk to the Foreign Journalists Club in Tokyo about Jordanian-Japanese relations and the situation in the region.