Tokyo: Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, engaged in discussions with Ms. Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo, alongside key Egyptian officials, including Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, and Mr. Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority. The meeting took place ahead of the opening session of the "TICAD 9" summit, hosted by Japan from 20 to 22 August, where the Prime Minister represented His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet with Ms. Yuriko Koike following their previous encounter in Cairo. During their discussions, both parties explored ways to enhance bilateral cooperation across various domains. Dr. Madbouly expressed appreciation for Ms. Koike's efforts in fostering strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Japan.
The Prime Minister underscored Egypt's interest in collaborating with Japan to leverage its expertise in education, particularly in light of directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to expand the presence of Japanese schools in Egypt. He praised the effectiveness of Japanese educational institutions and highlighted the ongoing cooperation in higher education through the Egyptian-Japanese University of Science and Technology. Dr. Madbouly also extended an invitation to Japanese students to study in Egypt, aiming to enhance student exchange programs.
Dr. Madbouly highlighted the enthusiasm of Egyptian youth for entrepreneurship and the private sector, noting that young people make up approximately 60% of Egypt's population. He expressed admiration for Japan's cultural and urban development and conveyed his aspiration to implement programs that facilitate experience sharing and cultural exchange.
The Prime Minister discussed potential collaboration opportunities in Egypt's transport sector, referencing past successful partnerships with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in developing transportation plans for Cairo. He also expressed hope for Ms. Yuriko Koike's attendance at the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, acknowledging Japan's role in its establishment and the ongoing exhibition of Egyptian artifacts in Japan.
Ms. Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, expressed her appreciation for the meeting and affirmed the growing development in Egyptian-Japanese relations. She expressed a keen interest in supporting bilateral relations, particularly in education and entrepreneurship, and acknowledged Egypt's strategic location as a gateway to the Arab region and Africa, enhancing mutual cooperation prospects.
The Governor expressed optimism about signing several memoranda of understanding during the Egyptian delegation's current visit, which would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in education. She noted the presence of 150 Japanese students who have visited Egypt for study purposes, illustrating the ongoing educational exchanges between the two nations.