Japanese lawmakers voice support for Jordan’s regional role

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki, who started a working visit to Japan on Wednesday, met in Tokyo with Chairman of the Japanese Parliament's Security Committee Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi among other MPs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the meeting, which was attended by Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Minister of Finance Omar Malhas, Mulki affirmed Jordan's stance on the political and security situation in the Middle East and regional crises and their repercussions on Jordan. 

He said that throughout history, Jordan received waves of forced migration, the last of which was 1.3 million Syrian refugees, noting that such influxes have posed economic, security and social challenges in the Kingdom

The prime minister outlined efforts exerted by Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah to bring about peace and stability in the region, adding that the Kingdom has remained an oasis for security and stability despite regional conditions and challenges.

Yamaguchi and members of the panel, which has on board two former defence ministers, voiced their understanding of Jordan’s political and economic situation, vowing that they would work through the Parliament to ensure continued support for Jordan to help it continue its role in the region and provide services to the refugees.

Sustaining such support, they said, is essential to achieve security, peace and stability in the region.

Jordan’s ambassador to Japan Demiya Haddad and the ambassador of Japan to Jordan, Shuinchi Sakurai, also attended the meeting. 

Earlier, today, Mulki arrived in the Japanese capital Tokyo where he was scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior Japanese officials.
Talks are expected to cover bilateral relations and means to further boost them in the political, economic and trade fields in addition to the latest developments in the region.

In a statement, Japan’s foreign ministry said the government of Japan “sincerely welcomes the visit of the prime minister, and hopes that the visit will further strengthen the friendly relation between Japan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”.