Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Kitamura Toshihiro reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to Palestine through the Japan-led Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (Ceapad) launched in 2013.
“We believe Southeast Asia is the most successful region in the world in terms of economic development, and we would like to make use of such expertise for the further economic development and reconstruction of Palestine,” Kitamura said in an interview with FMT on the sidelines of this week’s Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting.
“Ceapad is one of the key efforts that Japan has taken in support of the Palestinian nation’s development.”
His remarks come amid the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza following months of conflict and mounting civilian casualties.
Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan, as chair of Ceapad, has announced a US$1 million (RM4.25 million) contribution to be channelled to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
While global focus remains on ceasefires and diplomacy, Kitamura stressed that Japan is pursuing a long-term strategy – building institutional and economic resilience through regional partnerships.
“We want practical cooperation, not just verbal intentions,” he said.
An inclusive vision for regional development
Japan’s support for Palestine is part of a broader regional approach that also includes initiatives on climate and energy.
This includes the Asia Zero Emissions Community (Azec), which promotes sustainable development without sacrificing economic growth.
While not directly tied to Ceapad, Japan’s green development strategy reinforces its overall approach of enabling sustainable economic growth alongside environmental stewardship.
“In Asean countries, we believe it is unrealistic to demand an immediate transition to zero-carbon economies,” Kitamura said. “Instead, we support transitional technologies that reduce emissions while maintaining economic momentum – technologies like ammonia co-firing and hydrogen fuel.”
Such an approach could prove valuable for Palestine’s eventual reconstruction, particularly in areas like energy resilience, green infrastructure, and job creation.
Japan is already facilitating joint projects in Southeast Asia involving hydrogen production and biomass with partners such as Petronas and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
Kitamura’s remarks reflect a broader shift in Japan’s foreign policy – away from top-down aid models and towards shared regional growth, especially with the Global South.
“We are committed to a free and open international order, but we must also address global challenges together,” he said.
He said Japan’s role in Southeast Asia is not that of a benefactor or teacher, but a co-creator.
“We do not want a teacher-student or big brother-little brother relationship. Our stance is based on co-creation and trust,” he said.
“We have changed our image over the past 50 years. We are proud that surveys show Japan as one of the most reliable partners for the region for seven consecutive years.
“That’s because of our concrete actions, and our contribution to the Asean countries.”