Cairo: The Arab-Japanese Youth Forum was held Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo, under the theme "Bridges of Dialogue and Culture."
According to Qatar News Agency, in his opening remarks, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Mohammed Saleh Suleiman Al Ojairi, emphasized that this was the first time the forum was held under the specified theme. The initiative is part of the Arab League's commitment to fostering understanding between Arab and Japanese youths, aiming to introduce them to each other's culture, civilization, and customs, thereby strengthening popular and cultural relations.
Ambassador Al Ojairi highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Arab countries and Japan, noting significant milestones such as the Arab-Japanese Economic Forum established in 2009 and the Arab-Japan Political Dialogue launched at the ministerial level in 2013. This dialogue resulted in a memorandum of cooperation between the League of Arab States and the Government of Japan, encouraging civilizational dialogue through enhanced communication between Arab and Japanese intellectuals.
Furthermore, Al Ojairi mentioned recent expansions in cooperation, including training and capacity-building initiatives. The Arab League has hosted Japanese diplomats to acquaint them with its operations, and in return, the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt invited Arab League diplomats to learn about Japan's political, economic, and cultural landscape.
The Assistant Secretary-General also referenced resolutions from the Arab League Council aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation. The most recent resolution, adopted during the 163rd regular session at the ministerial level on April 23, demonstrated the member states' eagerness to deepen relations with Japan in political, economic, social, and cultural fields.