Abu Dhabi, UAE – Senior officials from the United Arab Emirates and Japan met on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, to launch the Political, Diplomatic, and International Cooperation Subcommittee. The meeting, held at Abu Dhabi, marked a crucial milestone in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI), launched last year to elevate the two countries’ strategic partnership.
Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, and Nagaoka Kansuke, Assistant Foreign Minister and Director General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of Japan, co-chaired the first session.
Speaking on the importance of the relationship between the UAE and Japan, Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said, “Today’s meeting provided an excellent opportunity to take stock of our strong bilateral ties and discuss ways to realize the shared ambitions of our two countries’ leaders to substantively elevate this strategic partnership in the context of the CSPI.”
The meeting aimed to explore potential collaborations in various areas, including trade and investment, energy technology, food security, and R&D. Officials from both countries also discussed regional developments, including the upcoming United Nations Security Council presidency held by the UAE and Sudan, Syria, and Afghanistan’s situations. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to non-proliferation and combating extremism.
Furthermore, the UAE and Japan renewed their dedication to address climate-related challenges in the lead-up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) taking place in the UAE in November and the G7 summit held in Japan.
Shihab Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, expressed optimism about the future of the relationship between the UAE and Japan. “The alignment of interests and the mutual desire to seize opportunities in various fields continues to be a driver of growth for our ambitious partnership that has transcended the traditional energy and trade domains,” he said.
The inaugural meeting of the Political, Diplomatic, and International Cooperation Subcommittee between the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan signaled a promising future for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative between the two nations.
