Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, affirmed, on September 5 in Cairo, the Kingdom’s commitment to contributing to the concretization of the Arab-Japanese Ministerial Dialogue, through the development of its mechanisms, programs, and initiatives in several fields, while opening up to Japanese expertise.
Intervening at the third session of the Arab-Japanese Political Dialogue, Bourita stressed that “the success of the Arab-Japanese political dialogue depends, first and foremost, on the degree of the countries’ commitment to coordination and their ability to act realistically and pragmatically and achieve concrete results in particular sectors.”
The Moroccan minister added that given the maturity that characterizes this Arab-Japanese political dialogue, “we aspire to boost economic relations between the Arab group and Japan to elevate them to the level of an efficient partnership in promising fields which now represent national and international priorities, especially as the Arab region is overflowing with potential, enabling it to play an important role within the international community and be an essential partner for both Japan and major international players.”
“We are pleased with the important role that Japan, a great, wise, and credible power at the international level, can play in defending Arab causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, which is not exclusively Arab, but rather a just cause deserving clear support from international players,” stated Minister Bourita.
The Moroccan official recalled that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in His capacity as Chairman of Al Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has constantly reiterated His constant and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, first and foremost that of Al Quds Asharif, insofar as the Sovereign has made it a priority of the Kingdom’s foreign policy, based on the conviction and commitment to peace, dialogue, and negotiations as the only way to achieve a definitive solution within the framework of international legality and based on the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East of Jerusalem as its capital.
The Minister also stressed the relevance and importance of this dialogue as a complementary framework for bilateral relations between Japan and Arab countries, noting that ten years following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Arab League (AL) and the Japanese government, this dialogue has achieved positive results and promoted discussion on several issues of common interest, because “while geographical reality places Japan and Arab States far apart, geopolitical reality draws them closer together through common ties, mutual interests, and strong historical relations.”
In a similar context, Bourita pointed out that “our countries’ strategic positions, the richness and diversity of their natural and energy resources, and their youthful demographic structures enable them to have high-impact international contributions to global issues and transcontinental challenges,” adding that despite these assets, trade volumes between the Arab grouping and Japan fall short of the two parties’ aspirations.
“Time has come to develop a strategic, promising, and innovative partnership, by boosting trade, promoting investment flow, mobilizing capacities and opportunities, and encouraging humanitarian initiatives and development aid,” concluded the Moroccan minister.
The third session of the Arab-Japanese Political Dialogue, which was attended by Japanese Foreign Minister, Hayashi Yoshimasa, his Arab counterparts, and the Arab League’s (AL) Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, was held in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Arab League (AL) and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2013, to set up a mechanism for cooperation and political consultation between the two parties at the foreign ministers level.
The Dialogue’s agenda also featured consultation and coordination on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly in the political and economic fields.