The Arab World has maintained good relations with Japan for many years. Yet it is surprising that not enough people are aware of the mutuality of interests, the promising scientific and technological collaborations, the possibilities that lie for intercultural dialogue and cooperation, and the enormous business opportunities that exist in closer links with Japan, the world’s second largest economy, and a real technological leader in the world. Perhaps this is because World has tended to look to the West, whenever it looks outside.

Over the past few years, a quiet dialogue has been taking place by prominent figures from Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to explore ways in which we could forge a better understanding and develop new avenues of collaboration. This year, on the occasion of our fifth meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, we decided to host a high-level conference to bring together leaders from politics, business, science, technology, culture and civil society from both Japan and the Arab World for an intensive two-day event.