Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Following the reopening of the Japanese Embassy in January, Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, FUKAZAWA Yoichi, visited Libya on April 29 and 30 to meet with political leaders. It was the first such high-level visit from Japan to Libya in approximately 12 years.
On April 29, Fukazawa had a meeting with Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, El-Taher El-Baour for the Second Japan-Libya Bilateral Policy Consultation.
Fukazawa said he hoped for the realization of political stability in the country that would lead to the establishment of a national unity government through elections so that progress could be made toward national reconciliation.
He suggested that the reopening of the Japanese Embassy in Libya and the visit to Japan by Abdullah Allafi, Vice President of Libya’s Presidential Council, would give momentum to the revitalization of bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to revitalize exchanges in various fields, such as the economy, and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
They also discussed cooperation in the international arena, including the United Nations Security Council, the situation in East Asia, especially North Korea, the situation in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fukazawa also paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Allafi and discussed the latter’s visit to Japan in January. They exchanged views on the promotion of future VIP visits and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the political situation in Libya.
On April 30, Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on Masoud Obaid, Vice President of the High Council of State, and stated that the early holding of national elections and substantial progress in national reconciliation would bring about stability that would benefit the interests of both countries.
Fukazawa visited the Libyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation for talks with various stakeholders, including Mohammed Raied, Chairman of the Board of the General Libyan Union of Chambers. Both parties exchanged views on strategies to reinvigorate bilateral economic exchanges and the economic situation in Libya.
Fukazawa also visited the international business exhibition “Libya Build,” which is being held in Tripoli. The Vice-Minister visited booths related to Japanese companies and attended the opening ceremony.