Interview with Yuriko Koike, Member of the House of Representatives, National Diet of Japan; Co-Chair, World Economic Forum on the Middle East

What are your aspirations for the meeting, especially in your capacity of Co-Chair?
I am very much honored to have this opportunity to attend the World Economic Forum on the Middle East as Co-Chair in Egypt, which is my second home country.

In the 1970s, I lived in Egypt for five years as a student of Cairo University. The experiences in the region were indispensable for me and were full of challenges.

In this decade, I served as Minister of the Environment and Minister of Defense. Those two positions appear completely different, however, I realized that both missions have one thing in common in terms of security. Minister of Defense is responsible for imminent national security affairs, while Minister of the Environment is responsible for mid- to long-term global security issues. I believe we will be able to ensure those securities by sharing Japan's technology on energy conservation and environmental preservation with countries in the region.

I believe that it is my role as Co-Chair to propose a constructive direction at this Forum, in cooperation with distinguished decision-makers coming from all over the world.

In which areas is Japan particularly interested in developing ties with the Middle East?
Ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East region is an issue that directly affects the peace and prosperity of the international community as a whole and is also vitally important for the energy security of Japan, which imports approximately 90% of its crude oil from this region. In this regard, Japan has been proactively engaged in the Middle East diplomacy, pursuing the dual goals of ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East in cooperation with the international community, and of securing Japan's energy security.

Over the years, Japan-Middle East relations have developed steadily in the economic realm. However, we would like to build multi-layered relationships encompassing areas such as politics, the economy, environment, culture, science and technology to further strengthen our partnership.

It is with this vision that the Japan-Arab Conference which I myself attended, was convened in Alexandria last November with more than 250 participants from Japan and 16 Arab countries. Japan promotes various programmes fostering dialogue with the countries of the Middle East, with the aim of promoting understanding in each country of Japan's policies towards the region while deepening mutual understanding.

How do you think that the rise of Asia as an economic power will impact the Middle East in the longer term?
I believe that the rise of Asia would positively impact the Middle East both in the mid- and longer-term. As a result of rapid economic growth, Asian countries are becoming more interested in the Middle East as an energy source, looking for ways to secure the energy supply from the Middle East. This would boost Asian countries' awareness of the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the region. In the longer term, Asia will and should play a more constructive role in the region.

On the other hand, the Middle East will be looking East more, to namely Asia, as its partner. There will be increasing business opportunities between the Middle East and Asia. In addition, a rising Asia could provide a role model for striking a balance between sustainable development and preservation of traditional values and customs, and presumably become a partner for the Middle East in its efforts for nation-building. A rising Asia will also be a partner for promoting mutual understanding among different cultures and civilizations through dialogue.