ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMAN, Jordan — Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida arrives for talks with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh and other officials on Mideast peacemaking and Syria.

He also plans to visit Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees on Friday and hold a press conference at the end of his visit that day. Through Friday.

* Japan commends Jordan's role in supporting Mideast peace process

Japan has commended the Kingdom's role in support of the Middle East peace process and its call for the resumption of talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kushida said his country appreciates Jordan's role in pushing for an agreement to resume direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Kushida, who is scheduled to visit the Kingdom on Thursday, said Tokyo has constantly urged the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume direct talks, stressing his country's continued efforts to encourage and support dialogue between the two sides.

Japan also stressed its support for US efforts through actively working to encourage the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative and the Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development.

The initiative is part of Japan's efforts to support Palestinian-Israeli coexistence and co-prosperity.

It aims to promote economic and social development in Jericho and the Jordan Valley area through fostering regional cooperation among the Palestinians, Israelis, Jordanians and Japanese.

Also on Tuesday, Interior Minister Hussein Majali and Japan's Ambassador in Amman Junichi Kosuge discussed means to develop and strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields.

Discussions also addressed the repercussions of the crisis in Syria and the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative, Petra reported.

During the meeting, Majali underscored the increasing bilateral cooperation witnessed in the past few years, which reflected positively on the economic, political and service sectors in both countries.

Highlighting the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on the Kingdom, Majali said the large influx of Syrian refugees into Jordan on a daily basis has placed considerable pressures on the Kingdom's economy, its educational and health facilities, infrastructure, and energy, water and labour sectors.

Commending Japan's support for Jordan, Majali called on the international community to assist the refugee host communities through launching productive projects in these areas to reduce the burdens they are shouldering and help them carry on with their humanitarian mission.

Discussions also focused on the issues that will be addressed during the fourth ministerial meeting on the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative, which will be held in Jericho in the West Bank on Thursday, with the participation of Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Japan.

The meeting, at which Majali will represent the Kingdom, seeks to boost the Palestinian and regional economy and achieve progress in the peace process, Petra reported.