In a speech delivered on this occasion, Mr. Nasser Bourita said that Morocco is determined to contribute to giving concrete content to the Arab-Japanese Ministerial Dialogue, through the development of its mechanisms, programs, and initiatives in various fields, within the framework of openness to the Japanese deeply-rooted experience.

"The success of the Arab-Japanese political dialogue depends primarily on the degree of our commitment to coordination and our ability to act with realism and pragmatism and to achieve concrete results in specific sectors," he underlined.

He added that given the maturity which will mark the Arab-Japanese political dialogue, "we aspire to boost economic relations between the Arab group and Japan to an efficient and fruitful partnership in promising fields, which now represent national and international priorities, especially since our Arab region has huge potential, allowing it to play a key role within the international community and to be a key partner for Japan and the biggest international stakeholders".

"We welcome the important role that Japan, a wise and credible great power on the international scene, can play in defending Arab causes, notably the Palestinian issue, which is not exclusively Arab, but constitutes a fair cause that deserves clear support from international stakeholders", Bourita underlined.

In this regard, he recalled that HM King Mohammed VI, in His capacity as president of the Al-Quds Committee (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), has always reiterated the sustained and constant commitment to the Palestinian cause, notably the question of Al-Quds Acharif, to such an extent that the Sovereign established it as a constant and priority of the Kingdom's foreign policy, based on the conviction and attachment to peace, dialogue and negotiations as the only way to achieve a definitive solution within the framework of international legality and on the basis of the two-State solution, with an independent Palestinian State within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds as capital.

The minister also noted the relevance and importance of this dialogue as a complementary framework for bilateral relations between Japan and Arab countries, stressing that after ten years of the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Arab League and the Japanese government, this dialogue has had positive results and promoted exchanges on a number of issues of common interest, because "if the geographical reality means that Japan and Arab States are far from each other, the geopolitical reality brings them closer on the basis of common bonds, mutual interests, and strong historical relations".

“The strategic positions of our countries, the wealth and diversity of their natural and energy resources, and their young demographic structures are factors that will allow them to have contributions with strong international impact in global issues and transcontinental challenges”, Mr. Bourita said, stressing that despite these assets, the volume of trade between the Arab grouping and Japan is below their aspirations.

“It is time to establish a strategic, promising, and innovative partnership, by boosting trade, promoting investment fluidity, mobilizing capacities and opportunities, and encouraging humanitarian initiatives and development aid,” Bourita concluded.

This dialogue, held in the presence of Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hayashi Yoshimasa, and the heads of diplomacy of Arab countries, and Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Mohamed Abou Ghait, takes place pursuant to the memorandum of cooperation signed between the Arab League and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2013, establishing a mechanism for cooperation and political consultation between the two parties at the level of foreign ministers.

During this session, discussions focused on coordination and exchange of views on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly in political and economic fields.