Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Sanad Loza met with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Koichi to discuss "overall bilateral relations", according to a statement released by the foreign ministry on Saturday. The two ministers discussed Japanese support for Egyptian projects, such as the rehabilitation of Egypt's water aqueducts, efforts to improve energy efficiency and the construction of a fourth Cairo metro line. The officials spoke at length about Egypt's concern with unstable regional situations in Iraq, Libya, Syria, the threat of terrorism facing Egypt and the recent Gaza conflict. The Japanese minister said he "appreciated Egypt's role and efforts in brokering the cease-fire in Gaza between the Israeli and Palestinian sides." According to the statement, the Japanese minister concluded the meeting by saying he "looked forward to receiving President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Japan in the future" and confirmed Japanese support for the process of political and economic reform underway in Egypt. Koichi is also attending the International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sharm El-Sheik between 14 and 16 September. The conference is jointly organised by the United Nations, Egypt and the Arab League to discuss crisis management in the Arab region.
