Koike visits Kuwait University, KISR as part of regional tour promoting Japan–Arab cooperation
KUWAIT: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Thursday delivered a lecture at Kuwait University focused on environmental protection and the challenges of climate change, highlighting the role of cities in driving sustainable transformation. Speaking at the university’s Sabah Al-Salem campus in the presence of University President Dr Dina Al-Mailem, senior officials, faculty members and students, Koike said cities are now “capable of leading change and transforming toward innovative environmental solutions.”
She noted that Tokyo has adopted “ambitious policies” to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through initiatives such as expanding solar energy, promoting clean hydrogen and increasing urban green spaces. Touching on Japan’s ties with Kuwait, Koike praised the “deep friendship and cooperation” between the two countries and recalled Kuwait’s support to Japan following the 2011 earthquake. That assistance, she said, “contributed to reconstruction projects and strengthened bilateral relations.”
Koike also commended Kuwait’s commitment to higher education, stressing that “human beings are the true source of energy for any society” and that “investing in education is the path to achieving sustainable development.”
KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah receives Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike at Bayan Palace. — KUNA photos
Governor Yuriko Koike and Dr Dina Al-Mailem attend a meeting during Governor Koike’s visit to Kuwait University.
Governor Yuriko Koike and KISR Director General Dr Faisal Al-Humadain attend a meeting in the presence of Kuwaiti and Japanese officials.
Partners in education
On women’s empowerment — which she described as “a cornerstone of a prosperous society” — Koike said Tokyo has seen “a notable increase in the number of women in leadership and political positions,” with women now making up about 40 percent of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. The number of women entrepreneurs has also doubled in recent years, she added.
She explained that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working to “strengthen the role of families and support parents” through comprehensive policies that encourage fathers to take parental leave and make parenting more balanced and stable.
Dr Al-Mailem said hosting the Tokyo governor contributes to the exchange of expertise and the development of higher education and research capabilities. She added that Kuwait University “is keen to build international partnerships with leading academic institutions as part of its vision to achieve excellence and research leadership,” in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the country’s sustainable development goals.
Following the lecture, Koike met with Japanese students studying at Kuwait University, expressing pride in their academic experience and praising the university’s efforts to create “an environment that fosters cultural exchange and strengthens cooperation between peoples.”
R&D cooperation
Koike and her accompanying delegation later visited the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), where they were received by the institute’s Director General Dr Faisal Al-Humadain. Al-Humadain said in a press statement that the visit marks an important step in the course of research and scientific cooperation between the institute and Japanese institutions and serves “as a catalyst” for new partnerships in sustainability, environment, energy, innovation and women’s empowerment in science and technology. “We look forward to launching new initiatives for scientific and technical cooperation,” he said.
Al-Humadain noted that the connection between KISR and Japan dates back to the institute’s founding in 1967 under the new oil concession agreement signed in 1958 between the Government of Kuwait and the Arabian Oil Company (Japan), when KISR’s first headquarters were located at the company’s premises in Kuwait City. He pointed out that cooperation between KISR and Japanese institutions has continued for decades through joint research projects and exchange of expertise in fields such as energy and water management. “This partnership has always been a source of inspiration for advanced research projects and for adopting nanotechnology solutions,” he said.
Al-Humadain stressed that Koike’s visit “represents an opportunity to expand the scope of cooperation and explore new horizons in applied research and technological development” in line with KISR’s new strategy and the New Kuwait 2035 Vision, which places science and innovation at the heart of national development. He added that the institute welcomes all initiatives that strengthen research and technical cooperation with advanced countries — foremost among them Japan. He said he believes that combining global expertise with Kuwaiti efforts in research and development will open new avenues for sustainable growth and enhance Kuwait’s presence in global R&D.
City-to-city ties
Earlier in the day, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received Governor Koike and her accompanying delegation at Bayan Palace on the occasion of their visit to Kuwait. The meeting was attended by Assima Governor Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Chief of the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and senior officials. Ahead of her visit to Kuwait Koike told Arab News Japan she “aims to exchange perspectives on potential future collaboration between our cities and within international networks, fostering partnerships among cities committed to sustainable growth.”
Koike’s visit to Kuwait is part of a regional tour covering Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, aimed at deepening cooperation with Arab nations and promoting Tokyo’s role as a global hub for innovation and sustainability.
“This region is currently attracting global attention for its economic growth and investment opportunities,” Koike told Arab News Japan earlier in the week. “Through this trip, I will work to enhance Tokyo’s presence as a leading global city, while applying the insights gained from international urban collaboration with the administration of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.”
‘Embracing differences’
Before arriving in Kuwait, Koike attended the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh and the Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, where she spoke about inter-city collaboration in fields such as clean energy, sustainable urban planning and women’s leadership. Her delegation includes manga artist Takahashi Yoichi, the creator of Captain Tsubasa — known in the Arab world as Captain Majid — who is contributing to the cultural exchange aspect of the trip.
Reflecting on her long ties with the Arab world — where she studied at university in Egypt — Koike said the region “has cultivated a rich diversity of cultures and a profound wisdom for navigating change.”
“While studying at university in Egypt, I encountered a different culture and learned the importance of embracing differences. That experience has been a great source of strength as I have faced various challenges as governor. The Arab people are dear friends to me, and I believe this visit will further deepen the bonds between Tokyo and the Arab world,” she told Arab News Japan. Koike’s regional tour, which began on Oct 26, will continue with a visit to Egypt, where she is scheduled to attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza before returning to Tokyo on Nov 3. — Agencies
