Gov. Koike speaks fluent Arabic … and feels spiritual connection with Arab world

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike described the Saudi Vision 2030 as ambitious, saying it considers the people the most important wealth in the country, an approach that is highly respected given that oil was for a long time deemed the foundation of development.
Koike, 64, is a former TV anchorwoman. She speaks fluent English and Arabic — the latter acquired as a student in Cairo. She has also served as environment minister. Koike said Vision 2030 answers some difficult questions such as how do we achieve sustainable development.
She said Saudi-Japanese relations are solid and based on political accord and continuous communication on the level of leaders, not to mention the friendship between the Saudi royal family and the Japanese empire.
“The variety of Saudi cities attracted my attention: Dammam has an industrial pattern and Makkah enjoys spirituality,” she said.
She said she is looking forward to cooperating with Riyadh for the purpose of establishing a bridge between the two capitals just like Cairo and Tokyo.
She focused on ways to overcome hurdles preventing the development of Japanese-Arab economic relations. She said she is “willing to create an economic identity for Tokyo and that she does not reject using new policies.”
She also hailed the Kingdom’s awareness that oil wealth will be over one day and that finding alternative energy sources is a must.
Koike said she feels a spiritual connection with the Arab world and that her role to focus on common points between the Japanese and Arab people will not stop.