Madbouly was joined at the meeting by Minister of Planning,
Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of
Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif, and Egypt’s Ambassador
to Japan Mohamed Abu Bakr.
Madbouly praised the historic relations between Egypt and
Japan, which span more than 70 years and were elevated to the level of a
strategic partnership in April 2023. He stressed the importance of cooperation
between the two sides across various fields.
He expressed his anticipation of the participation of the
Japanese Prime Minister in the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum on
November 1.
He expressed deep appreciation for Japan’s contribution to
numerous major national and developmental projects, particularly the Grand
Egyptian Museum and the Egyptian-Japanese partnership in education. He noted
that this cooperation has led to the establishment of the Egypt-Japan
University and the launch of 69 Egyptian-Japanese schools so far, with
aspirations to expand to 500 schools. He also highlighted the establishment of
the Egyptian University of Science and Technology as an exceptional educational
model, stressing Egypt’s hope that the university will extend its scope to
include African students.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly underscored Egypt’s
eagerness to broaden cooperation with Japan to include advanced technology
industries, artificial intelligence, and governance-related aspects. He
emphasized Egypt’s aspiration to establish a Japanese industrial zone in the
Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), leveraging its global logistical and
industrial hub advantages as well as the incentives offered, in addition to
benefiting from Egypt’s trade agreements with several economic blocs and
neighboring countries.
Madbouly pointed to Egypt’s desire to open new and broader
areas of economic cooperation with Japan, based on shared perspectives on key
issues such as climate change. He invited Japanese companies to benefit from
Egypt’s green hydrogen strategy, adopted in August 2024, by investing in this
promising field.
He commended trilateral cooperation between JICA, the
Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, and African countries, as well
as Japan’s role in peacebuilding and support for the Cairo International Center
for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding. He noted that this
cooperation has resulted in launching trilateral programs between Japan, the
Center, and African countries, reaffirming Egypt’s hope that Japan will remain
a strategic partner of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development to
enhance regional responses to emerging peace and security challenges in Africa.
Madbouly reiterated Egypt’s firm stance rejecting the
continuation of the Israeli war on Gaza and the obstruction of humanitarian aid
delivery to the Strip, which has aggravated the humanitarian crisis. He also
reaffirmed Egypt’s categorical rejection of the displacement of Palestinians
from their land, warning that this would amount to the liquidation of the
Palestinian cause.
He reviewed Egypt’s ongoing efforts, together with other
mediators, to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and to support de-escalation
across the Middle East. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to continuing these
efforts to reduce tensions and spare the peoples of the region further conflict
and instability.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his appreciation for
the longstanding relations between the two countries in all fields,
highlighting cultural cooperation, especially the establishment of the Grand
Egyptian Museum.
Ishiba called on Israel to abide by international law and to
work toward improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He expressed
appreciation for and support of Egypt’s efforts in securing a ceasefire and the
release of hostages.
He voiced his support for Japanese companies seeking to
invest in the SCZone and confirmed Japan’s interest in participating in the
opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
He referred to ongoing cooperation in establishing new and
renewable energy projects and stressed the importance of providing the
necessary support for these initiatives.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his aspiration to
enhance joint scientific research with African countries by providing
scholarships through the Egypt-Japan University, and highlighted his
anticipation of Egypt’s participation in the International Horticultural
Exhibition "Expo 2027 Yokohama," scheduled to be held in Yokohama in
2027.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly congratulated the Japanese
Prime Minister on the successful organization and follow-up of the summit’s
outcomes, particularly in the field of renewable energy, and reaffirmed Egypt’s
aspiration to intensify cooperation with Japan in all areas.