Japan's Abe Vows to Do More for Middle East Stability

Muscat, Jan. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a meeting with Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Thursday night, pledged his country's redoubled efforts for the stability of the Middle East. Explaining his policy to make Japan a proactive contributor to world peace, Abe said Japan will beef up its contributions to peace and stability of the international community including the Middle East. Qaboos replied that he appreciates and welcomes Japan's diplomatic efforts. Abe is in the Omani capital of Muscat on the first leg of his week-long four-nation tour that will also take him to Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Ethiopia. Abe and Qaboos agreed that Iran's nuclear development issue should be resolved through dialogue. Oman, which has friendly ties with Iran, is believed to have acted as an intermediary for negotiations between Iran and the United States to break the nuclear standoff. Japan will continue to play its role to help resolve the nuclear issue peacefully, Abe said. Qaboos praised the Japanese stance. Abe also said that Japan will work for the success of peace talks for civil war-torn Syria, to be held in Switzerland later this month. The sultan said the international meeting is very important. It is critical to ensure peace and stability in the ocean, respect for international law and freedom of flights over high seas, Abe said. He apparently kept in mind China's growing maritime activities and its establishment last November of an air defense identification zone in the East China Sea, which includes airspace over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands at the center of tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Qaboos showed support for Abe's view. Abe voiced his hope to improve the strained Sino-Japanese relations based on the concept of a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, noting that ties with China are one of the most important bilateral relationships for Japan. At the same time, Abe emphasized the importance of peaceful efforts based on the rule of law that does not involve the use of force. Relations between Japan and China, which had already soured mainly over the island issue, became even worse following Abe's visit late last month to controversial Yasukuni Shrine. The Shinto shrine in Tokyo honors Class-A World War II criminals among the war dead and is thus regarded as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by neighboring countries such as China and South Korea. Abe and Qaboos agreed to enhance economic cooperation between Japan and Oman. Abe said he hopes that Japan's advanced technologies will be used for the development of water purification, power generation and other infrastructure in Oman. The sultan said Oman aims to achieve industrial diversification. The leaders also issued a joint statement stipulating the two nations's closer cooperation in various areas including the economy, energy and security. The statement stressed "the importance of stability on sea-lanes of communication for the peace and prosperity of the international community as a whole." The two leaders also reached a broad agreement on a proposed pact aimed at boosting investment between the two countries, and signed a memorandum of understanding on Japan's technological assistance for oil and gas development in Oman. With the trip to Oman, Abe has become the first Japanese prime minister to visit all six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council while in office. END