Japanese Amb. Attends Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Peace, Development in Red Sea

Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, attended a roundtable discussion on Advancing Sustainable Peace and Development in the Red Sea hosted by CCCPA and Japanese Embassy in Egypt

Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, Hiroshi Oka attended a roundtable discussion on “Advancing Sustainable Peace and Development in the Red Sea: Challenges and Opportunities” on 10 January 2023, with the participation of a number of officials, experts and academics from Egypt and Japan, which is hosted by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding in Cairo (CCCPA), in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy in Egypt.

In the context of the privileged relations between the two countries, the roundtable witnessed a rich exchange of views on prospects for advancing sustainable peace and development in the Red Sea region, and opportunities for collaboration through dialogue based on mutual respect, bearing in mind relevant discussions on the Red Sea held during the consecutive editions of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development – to which Japan is a strategic partner as well as following up on the meeting between Foreign Ministers of two friendly countries. The roundtable was moderated by H.E. Ambassador Hisham El-Zimaity, former Ambassador of Egypt to Japan.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, CCCPA Director General, highlighted Egypt’s commitment to enhancing peace and stability in the Red Sea region, and promoting cooperation, including through support to the recently established Council of the Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Furthermore, he emphasized Egypt’s integrated approach to advancing, peace and security in the region in tandem with fostering economic development, regional integration and addressing environmental risks. He expressed his appreciation for the long-standing partnership of the Government of Japan with CCCPA and the Aswan Forum in the framework of the trilateral cooperation to strengthen peace and security in Africa.

On his part, H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Oka highlighted the importance of maritime safety and security in the Red Sea Area including the Suez Canal as a global maritime route, and Japanese efforts to support peace and development in the region through cooperation with the littoral countries, including in the context of implementing the initiatives launched by Japan during the Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development (TICAD 8) held last August in Tunisia. Ambassador Oka also expressed his appreciation to the role of CCCPA in training and capacity building in Africa within the framework of the ongoing collaboration between Egypt and Japan on peace and security, stressing that Egypt is a most-trusted partner when it comes to Japanese diplomacy in Africa and the Middle East.

In his remarks, Dr. Satoshi Ikeuchi, Professor of Religion and Global Security at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo, discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation in the Red Sea that reinforce maritime security and contribute to fostering development and prosperity. In this context, he stressed keenness of Japanese side to be acquainted with Egypt’s perspective on the rapidly evolving dynamics in the region.   

The roundtable’s discussions addressed challenges in the Red Sea region and their implications on peace and security, as well as the role of partnerships and cooperation frameworks in promoting integrated approaches in line with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. It also examined opportunities for cooperation between Egypt and Japan, building on achievements in their bilateral and trilateral cooperation to advance sustainable peace and development on the African continent.

In addition to Japanese Embassy officials, representative of Egypt Office of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Professor Ikeuchi, currently visiting Egypt, the roundtable witnessed the virtual participation of a number of Tokyo-based Japanese officials and researchers including Mr. Masahiro Tada, Director, First Middle East Division, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Mr. Hideki Matsunaga, Director General, Middle East and Europe Department, at the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Koji Yonetani, Principal Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and former Director General of Africa at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Dr. Hideaki Shinoda, Professor at Graduate School of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Mr. Nozomu Yamashita, Director, Office for Peacebuilding, Governance and Peacebuilding Department, at the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Dr. Ryuichi Shibasaki, Associate Professor at Resilience Engineering Research Center, Department of Technology, Management for Innovation (TMI), School of Engineering, University of Tokyo. Egyptian participants included Ambassador Hamdy Shaaban, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), Mr. Amr Essam, Counsellor, Office of the Deputy Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs for African Affairs, Brigadier General Dr. Ahmed Fouad El Kady, the Center for Strategic Studies, Nasser Military Academy, General Mohamed Ibrahim, Deputy Director of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, Dr. Eman Ragab, Head of Military and Security Research Unit, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS), Dr. Rania Khafaga, Assistant Professor at Faculty of African Studies, Cairo University and Dr. Said Fleifel, Emeritus Professor and Former Dean of the Faculty of African Studies, Cairo University as well as the CCCPA team.