Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, held an extensive meeting at the Japan National Press Club as part of his participation in the fifth session of the Arab-Japanese Economic Forum currently being held in Tokyo.
The meeting attracted a significant number of Japanese and international journalists.
Jamal Rushdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that Aboul Gheit delivered an opening speech in which he highlighted the shared heritage between Arabs and Japanese.
He noted that since the late 19th century, Arab intellectuals have looked to the Japanese experience in modern development for inspiration and to understand its strengths.
Aboul Gheit emphasized the potential to expand and deepen Arab-Japanese relations, encompassing technology transfer, investment, and economic development cooperation, alongside substantial trade exchanges that have reached $140 billion since the beginning of this year.
Rushdy also mentioned that the Secretary-General addressed the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and the resulting humanitarian disaster, which has provoked intense anger among Arabs.
He pointed out the significant disruption caused by the Israeli aggression to regional stability, international security, and the global economy.
Aboul Gheit urged Tokyo to recognize the state of Palestine, asserting that such recognition aligns with the right side of history and would give Palestinians hope that their independent state will soon be realized, providing a light at the end of the tunnel.
He argued that the alternative to the two-state solution is either the current apartheid system or the forced transfer policies pursued by Israel, which are untenable, or a one-state solution that would undermine the Jewish state’s vision as held by many Israelis.
