On a four-day visit to Japan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed common goals of both nations at meetings with political and business leaders.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Tokyo on a four-day working visit to Japan with his wife Sara, met on Monday with members of the Israel Japan Parliamentary Friendship League led by MP Gen Nakatani, led by Japanese Member of Parliament Gen Nakatani.
Israel and Japan Share ‘Common Bond’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lunches with Gen Nakatani, Chairman of the Israel-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, and other Members of Parliament in Japan. (Photo: Kobi Gideon/Flash 90)
“There is a common bond” between Israel and Japan,” Netanyahu said at the start of a meeting, which included members of the Israel Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, led by Member of Parliament Gen Nakatani.
Israel and Japan are “both democratic, progress, technological societies. You face North Korea, which is a rogue regime with nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu asserted.
Discussing many common interests between Israel and Japan, Netanyahu declared:
“We face the possibility of Iran, which is a rogue regime that wants to have nuclear weapons. They’re cooperating between them, and we should cooperate between us, and I want to commend you for keeping the torch of Israeli-Japanese friendship alive and now it’s growing stronger. And it will grow stronger with this visit. I’m confident of that.”
Netanyahu: Cyber Security ‘Transcends Everything’
Earlier in the day, working to enhance economic collaboration between Israel and Japan, Netanyahu met with Panasonic corporate leaders, including Chairman of the Board Shusaku Nagae, Tokyo Center Director Yoshiko Hamazaki, Marketing and Sales Manager Hiroki Miyaji and International Relations Director Genichiro Shimada.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trading and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo. (Photo by Kobi Gideon/Flash 90)
“There is one area that transcends everything and affects everything and this is the question of cyber security,” Netanyahu stated at the corporate meeting. “All the systems that I saw here are computerized systems; they’re all vulnerable. Cyber security is a growing need and a central need for your businesses. This is something Israel is developing by leaps and bounds on a global scale and we are open to participation not only with governments, but also with companies. And indeed the biggest companies in the world in this field and related fields are now coming to Israel to invest in cyber security and we invite you to do the same.”
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, later Monday evening.
Written by: United with Israel Staff