Head of the Department of Asia and Australia Meets Japanese Assistant Foreign Minister

On 16/06/2022, Head of the Department of Asia and Australia Haider Radhi Nasser Al-Shamrti, met Mr Nagaoka Kansuke, the Japanese Assistant Foreign Minister – Director General of the Department of Middle East and African Affairs, accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador in Baghdad, Mr Suzuki Kotaro, at the Ministry’s headquarters. The two sides confirmed their keenness to develop and consolidate the political and economic relations between the two friendly countries. The head of the Department of Asia and Australia also stated that Iraq looks forward to building economic partnerships with a number of countries in the world- led by Japan- in order to rebuild and rehabilitate the infrastructure. He also touched on the historic relations between Iraq and Japan and the importance of enhancing them in the interests of the two friendly countries, adding that the security and political developments of Iraq calls on us seriously to urge Japan to cancel the recommendation for Japanese citizens not to travel to Iraq, consistent with the security and political developments in the country. Thus, businessmen, investors, academics, experts and tourists can travel to Iraq, according to what the Ambassador saw on his tours in the various regions and provinces of Iraq.

On his part, Mr Nagaoka commended the bilateral political and economic relations between the two friendly countries, calling for developing them in the interest of the two peoples. He promised that his country would study the matter of facilitating travel to Iraq, especially after his tour in the areas of Baghdad and his observation of the improved security there, in addition to the tours of the Japanese ambassador and his visit to a number of Iraqi provinces, including Najaf, the holy province of Karbala, Anbar and Mosul.

The two sides agreed to exchange official visits between the two friendly countries and work to overcome the obstacles faced by some Japanese companies operating in Iraq.