Abe Pledges Japan's Continued Support for Iraq Development

Tokyo, Dec. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan will continue to support the development of Iraq, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday. Abe made the comments in a meeting in Tokyo with Hussain Ibrahim al-Shahristani, Iraqi deputy prime minister for energy affairs. Shahristani said his country appreciates Japan's continued support for nation-building and economic reconstruction in Iraq. Shahristani also expressed his hope that Japan will work toward a peaceful resolution of Syria's civil war and Iran's nuclear issue. The Middle Eastern countries are adjacent to Iraq. Abe said Japan and Iraq should work together to seek the peaceful settlement of regional problems as the two countries have common concerns and values. END