Cairo: Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayyeb met with Japan's Ambassador to Cairo, Iwai Fumio, to discuss expanding cooperation in education and religious training.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting focused on Al Azhar's ongoing efforts to host over 70,000 international students from more than 100 countries, including offering scholarships to students from Japan's Muslim community. The Grand Imam expressed Al Azhar's willingness to establish an Arabic language center in Japan, which would be supported by qualified teachers and necessary academic resources provided by Al Azhar.

Al Tayyeb also highlighted Al Azhar's readiness to receive and train Japanese imams through its global academy, with programs designed to address modern challenges and promote balanced religious understanding. The Japanese ambassador welcomed these proposals and expressed appreciation for Al Azhar's global role in promoting peace, coexistence, and religious understanding.

The ambassador affirmed Japan's interest in continuing cooperation with Al Azhar, particularly in the training of imams and the development of language and religious education programs.