Tripoli: Japan has confirmed its support for Libya's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term. Japan expressed its commitment to coordinate and consult with Libya to ensure the success of this endeavor. This announcement was made during official discussions that also considered the reopening of Japan's consular section in Tripoli.
According to Libyan News Agency, the meeting took place on Wednesday between Hassan Rabha, Director of the Department of Asian and Australian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Onishi Yohei, Parliamentary Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is presently visiting Tripoli. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and developing partnerships in political, economic, and investment spheres.
The talks also included the potential reopening of the Japanese Embassy's consular section in Tripoli, which would resume consular services such as issuing visas to Libyan citizens. This move is expected to facilitate travel and improve communication between Libya and Japan.
The meeting reviewed the results of a high-level Libyan economic delegation's visit to Japan from July 7-10, 2026. The delegation, led by the Minister of Oil and Gas and including the Minister of Economy and Trade, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation, engaged with Japanese officials and economic institutions. Discussions covered the outcomes of the Second Libyan-Japanese Economic Forum, emphasizing the importance of leveraging these results to enhance economic and investment cooperation.
Further discussions addressed collaboration in energy, investment, infrastructure, reconstruction, capacity building, education and training, and digital transformation. Additionally, cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation was discussed to support development programs and expertise exchange between the two nations.
Both parties highlighted the importance of ongoing political coordination, consultation, and the exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. They stressed the necessity of maintaining communication between relevant institutions and implementing the outcomes of meetings and reciprocal visits. This would translate into practical programs and projects, expanding the partnership between Libya and Japan, as stated on the official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity.