Japan’s Foreign Minister in Israel
17 August, 2021 |
4 years ago
Jerusalem, 17 August, 2021 (TPS-IL) -- Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi arrived in Israel on Sunday as part of his tour of the Middle East.
This is the first such trip by a Japanese foreign minister since Motegi’s predecessor, Taro Kono, visited in December 2017.
Motegi visited Egypt, and will also visit Jordan, Turkey, the Palestinian Authority, Iran and Qatar.
The tour’s objective is to consolidate Japan’s ties with the area strategically important for Tokyo as a major oil supplier.
Motegi told a press conference earlier this month that “through the visit, I want to reiterate our commitment to the Middle East, which has contributed to its peace and prosperity over the years.”
Referring to the new governments in Iran and Israel, Motegi said, “I would like to frankly exchange opinions on the regional situation and work closely with them to promote the stability of the region.”
In 2022, Japan and Israel will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.
