TOKYO, March 1: Kuwaiti Minister of Information, Culture, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, emphasized Kuwait's strong commitment to making an effective and outstanding participation in Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. He stated that Kuwait's goal is not only to be present at the global event but also to excel and win awards, all while showcasing its future vision and rich cultural heritage to visitors from around the world.

Al-Mutairi's comments came during a meeting with Yoshitaka Ito, Japan's Minister in charge of the exhibition, in Tokyo. The meeting was held to discuss the latest preparations for Kuwait's participation in Expo 2025, which is set to begin on April 13.

The minister highlighted that Kuwait first participated in Expo Osaka in 1970 and is now returning after 55 years to continue its journey of friendship and cooperation with Japan, which has spanned over 60 years. Al-Mutairi emphasized that Japan's success in organizing the event represents success for Kuwait as well, reflecting the country's commitment to an active and effective participation. Kuwait was the first Arab nation and the eighth country globally to sign a participation contract and begin the construction of its pavilion.

As part of its commitment, Kuwait held a press conference in Japan to announce its pavilion, showing appreciation for the strong historical bilateral relations between the two nations. Al-Mutairi praised the Kuwaiti Embassy in Tokyo for supporting Kuwait's participation and facilitating visits by delegations from the Ministry of Information to ensure the progress and quality of the pavilion's construction.

The Minister of Information also stated that his visit to Japan aimed to directly assess the latest developments in the construction of Kuwait's pavilion. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the pavilion adheres to the highest safety standards and is fully compliant with the exhibition's organizational and technical regulations. To further oversee the progress, Al-Mutairi planned a field tour of the construction site to meet with the company responsible for building the pavilion.

Minister Ito, for his part, expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s participation and its dedication to creating a distinguished pavilion that reflects the depth of friendship between the two countries. He noted that the unique design of Kuwait’s pavilion would attract attention from visitors worldwide, strengthening cultural ties between Kuwait and Japan. Ito also highlighted that the exhibition would serve as a platform for linking Japanese regions with countries around the world, thus achieving broader economic benefits beyond just Osaka.

Additionally, Minister Ito thanked Minister Al-Mutairi for inviting Yoshihiro Murai, the President of the Association of Japanese Prefectural Governors and Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, to visit Kuwait and attend the launch of the "Kuwait, Capital of Arab Culture and Media 2025" event. Ito also expressed his gratitude for Kuwait's support following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, acknowledging that this humanitarian assistance would always be remembered by the Japanese people.

Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Japan, Sami Al-Zamanan, affirmed Kuwait's commitment to ensuring the success of its participation. He revealed that he had organized a meeting with Arab country ambassadors in Tokyo, in collaboration with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Expo organizing committee. The aim was to enhance Arab cooperation and encourage more Arab countries to participate in the event to support Japan. Al-Zamanan emphasized that the Kuwaiti Embassy in Japan is fully prepared to address any obstacles and ensure the success of Kuwait's pavilion. He also praised the precision and organizational skills of the Japanese people, noting that all necessary logistical support had been provided for those responsible for the Kuwait Pavilion.

The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Salem Al-Watyan, Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Information and Commissioner General of Kuwait at Expo 2025 Osaka, and Nasser Al-Khalidi, Engineering Advisor to the Minister of Information, Culture, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs. On the Japanese side, attendees included Izuru Kobayashi, Ambassador in charge of Economic Diplomacy and Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other officials from the Japanese Government Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.