Japan and Egypt agreed Tuesday to work closely not only on seeking an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants but also on planning for international assistance for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and fostering sustainable peace in the region, Japanese officials said.
In a phone call to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone expressed appreciation for the significant role played by Egypt in efforts to secure peace in the Middle East and Africa and promised that Japan will play an "active role" in supporting reconstruction in Gaza.
Japan's special envoy for the Middle East, Tatsuo Arima, currently in the region to assist efforts to end the hostilities in the Gaza Strip, met for talks with Aboul Gheit. Arima's visit includes stops in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Syria.