[18/08/2026 05:44]

RIYADH – SABA
President Dr. Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday.

He discussed with him the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, prospects for strengthening and developing cooperation at all levels and ways to further advance these ties.

President al-Alimi welcomed the Japanese foreign minister and his accompanying delegation and asked him to convey his greetings to the Japanese leadership.

He expressed his deep appreciation for the long-standing and distinguished relations between the two friendly countries, which are based on mutual respect, development, and progress.

The President also commended Japan’s steadfast support for the Yemeni people and their political leadership, describing Japan as one of Yemen’s most important donor countries.

He stressed that Japanese assistance represents a long-term investment in the Yemeni people and in their essential priorities, particularly education, healthcare, food security, and institution-building.

President Al-Alimi expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support to the Yemeni Coast Guard, looking forward to strengthening and expanding this assistance in the areas of training, monitoring and surveillance, search and rescue, counterterrorism and combating smuggling and organized crime.

He also stressed the importance of broadening cooperation to include electricity and renewable energy, while moving increasingly from emergency response toward recovery and the creation of employment and productive opportunities.

The President praised Japan’s experience and achievements not only in economic development and technological advancement, but also as one of the most important examples in modern history of how states and societies can recover from the effects of war and destruction by investing in people, education, institutions, and the rule of law.

President al-Alimi also discussed the latest developments and the current situation on the domestic front, foremost among them the continued escalation by the Houthi militias and their terrorist attacks targeting civilian facilities and ports as well as commercial vessels.

He expressed his high appreciation for Japan’s condemnation of this escalation, which he described as destabilizing to international peace and security.

He reaffirmed the Yemeni people’s commitment to restoring state institutions, ensuring the state’s legitimate monopoly over arms, and building a just and sustainable peace that safeguards Yemen’s territorial sovereignty and prevents its territory from being used to threaten neighboring countries and international maritime routes.

President al-Alimi also underscored Yemen’s interest in Japan’s vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the strategic partnerships it offers with Yemen and other countries in the region.

He said there is an opportunity to launch bilateral dialogue on integrating Yemen more fully into Japanese initiatives related to maritime security, connectivity, infrastructure, human-resource development, and human security.

---