Japan FM stresses peace in talks with Yemeni leader

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has met with the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, and stressed the importance of peace in the Middle Eastern country.

Motegi held talks with Al-Alimi in Saudi Arabia for about an hour on Tuesday.

Al-Alimi leads Yemen’s interim government which is based outside the country due to the impact of a civil war involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen is serving as an alternative crude oil shipping route for the Strait of Hormuz.

At the meeting, Motegi pointed out that the stability of Yemen, which faces the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is directly linked to the stability and development of the whole international community.

Motegi strongly condemned attacks by the Houthi rebels on ships and other targets in the waterway, and emphasized the importance of realizing peace in Yemen.

Al-Alimi expressed gratitude for Japan’s support for stabilizing Yemen. He said he highly values a free and open Indo-Pacific being pursued in Japan’s foreign policy and that he wants to strengthen cooperation.

Motegi and Al-Alimi agreed to work closely together for the development of bilateral relations as well as regional peace and stability.