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On April 3, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Arab Japan Day Reception held in Tokyo.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
“I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations for the Arab Japan Day Reception. I would like to express my respect for the hard work of H.E. Mr. Rachad Bouhlal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Japan, and all the parties involved.
 
As I promised last year, I have set a new record by attending this reception for the fifth time as Prime Minister.  
 
By just looking at everyone who is present here tonight, I realize anew the breadth of cordial relations between Japan and the Arab region.
 
The era when Japan and Arab countries only interact with each other through the energy sector is now a thing of the past. Since I assumed office as Prime Minister, I have visited a total of 11 countries and regions over six trips with the aim of building a comprehensive relationship with Arab countries across a wide range of fields, including politics, the economy, security, culture, and society.
 
The day after tomorrow, I will welcome Prime Minister Al-Abadi to Tokyo and hold a meeting on the improvement of the security situation in Iraq. At the same time, I would also like to engage in a meaningful exchange of views on job training, job creation, and weapon collection.   
 
The best way is in the middle. This ancestral wisdom of the Middle East is also my philosophy for Middle East diplomacy. In the aspects of placing importance on tradition and valuing moderation, Japan and the Middle East share commonalities in our fundamental approaches to life.  
 
Respect for diversity and tolerance are of great importance. Our response to violent extremism including ISIL, Syrian refugees, and other issues is not limited to emergency and humanitarian assistance. From a medium- to long-term perspective, we also work to support nation-building and human resource development, which form the basis for reaching a fundamental solution for these issues.
                                             
The peace process in the Middle East is a crucial issue not only for the stability of the region but also for the international community. Japan has consistently supported the two-state solution. Going forward, we will continue to contribute to trust building among the parties involved through various initiatives such as the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity,” and to work tirelessly toward the realization of peace in the Middle East.
 
There is infinite potential for the relations between Japan and Arab countries. In closing my remarks, I would like to affirm our commitment to walking together with Arab countries toward a bright future. Thank you.”