Kuwait calls for cementing Arab-Japanese cooperation

CAIRO: Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah called for strengthening Arab-Japanese economic, cultural, and educational cooperation for better future for both sides. Speaking at the opening session of the first round of the Arab-Japanese ministerial political dialogue, which kicked off at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo Monday evening, Al-Jarallah stressed that a stronger and wider cooperation in a slew of domains would be beneficial for mutual interests.

It would also help confront political and security challenges, particularly the growing menace of terrorism on world security and stability, he added. Al-Jarallah expressed appreciation of Japan’s support to Arab causes at international events and organizations. He recalled Japan’s role in liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation and its supportive stance to the Palestinian people. This honorable stance would be remembered forever by Kuwaiti people, he said. He pointed out that Japan is the fourth largest trade partner to Kuwait with trade exchange estimated at USD 14 billion in past few years. Meanwhile, Al-Jarallah expressed deep concern about the latest worrying developments in the Korean Peninsula after the recent nuclear test by North Korea. “This development prompts us to call on North Korea to immediately and completely abide by its obligations as per the relevant UN resolutions,” he said. He reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to work with the international community to press the North Korean government to stop its nuclear, and ballistic missile and other mass destruction weapons production programs. In abidance with the UN resolutions related to boycotting North Korea to push it to implement its obligations, Kuwait has taken several trade measures in this regard and lowered the diplomatic representation with North Korea to the level of charge d’affair. — KUNA