Japan to Allocate $2.5Bln For Infrastructure Development in Middle East

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that country will provide $2.5 billion assistance to the Middle Eastern countries for the development of the infrastructure and non-military areas.

MOSCOW, January 17 (Sputnik) – Japan will provide $2.5 billion assistance to the Middle Eastern countries for the development of the infrastructure and non-military areas, the country's prime minister Shinzo Abe said during his visit to Egypt's Cairo Saturday.

"Taking into account the entire Middle East region, $2.5 billion will be allocated for humanitarian assistance and for the development of the infrastructure and non-military areas," Kyodo news agency quoted Abe as saying.

A total of $200 million of these funds will be spent on measures to counter Islamic State, in particular, to assist the refugees and displaced people in Iraq and Syria.

Abe noted that Japan has already sent $2.2 billion assistance to the countries of the Middle East in the course of the previous two years.

He also expressed hope for the resumption of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestine, noting that "Japan believes a day will come in the near future, when Palestine is recognized as a state."

Abe also emphasized Japan's desire to contribute to stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

The Japanese prime minister is currently on a world tour with four stops in the Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Palestine.