KUWAIT: Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Majdi Al-Dhafeeri attends the second online session of the ministerial meeting for the Arab-Japanese political dialogue. - KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Majdi Al-Dhafeeri yesterday headed the Kuwaiti delegation in the second online session of the ministerial meeting for the Arab-Japanese political dialogue. The session witnessed the participation of Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abul Gheit and representatives of Arab states.

During his speech and regarding the coronavirus situation that the world is going through, Dhafeeri praised the effective contributions of the Arab countries and Japan through the global initiative (COVAX) aimed at enabling countries around the world to obtain safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Dhafeeri also shed light on the historical and deep-rooted ties between Kuwait and Japan, hailing the bilateral relations between the two countries, which involved important and fruitful cooperation.

Furthermore, he noted that the total volume of trade exchange between Kuwait and Japan in the last two years 2019-2020 reached more than $3 billion, adding that Kuwait was ranked third among oil-exporting countries to Japan, as Kuwaiti oil exports to Japan in 2019-2020 amounted in value to nearly $11.3 billion. On the other hand, Dhafeeri stressed the Arab countries appreciate the humanitarian and assistance provided by Japan to the region's states, expressing the Arabs' keenness to upgrade these relations.

Regarding the Palestinian cause, Dhafeeri reaffirmed Kuwait's position on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of June 4, 1967. He also affirmed that Kuwait is keen to reach political solutions to the crises in Yemen, Syria and Libya, through dialogue based on International legitimacy decisions and references in this regard.

Moreover, he expressed Kuwait's solidarity with Egypt and Sudan in their tireless efforts in preserving regional stability and their efforts to resolve the crisis of filling and operating the Renaissance Dam, in a manner that preserves their water and economic rights in accordance with international laws. The Kuwaiti delegation included Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Office of the Deputy Minister Ambassador Ayham Al-Omar and Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Arab Nation Affairs Counselor Nasser Al-Qahtani. - KUNA