Japan and Palestine Strengthen Cooperation for Gaza Reconstruction at CEAPAD Meeting

Tokyo and Palestine co-hosted a working-level meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) on March 10, 2026, to discuss future collaboration and bolster support for Gaza’s rebuilding efforts. The meeting, held in a hybrid format with both in-person and online participation, underscored the importance of coordinated international assistance as reconstruction gains momentum.

CEAPAD: A Platform for Regional Cooperation

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Iwamoto Keiichi, Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Laila Sbeih, Assistant Deputy Minister for Aid Coordination and International Cooperation of Palestine’s Ministry of Finance and Planning. Participants included representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the World Bank.

Focus on Gaza Reconstruction and Palestinian Capacity Building

Ambassador Okubo Takeshi, Japan’s Ambassador in charge of Gaza rebuilding Assistance, presented his mission’s perspective on recent international developments concerning Gaza reconstruction. Director-General Iwamoto then outlined Japan’s ongoing efforts and initiatives in the region. The Palestinian side shared its views and emphasized CEAPAD’s crucial role in strengthening Palestinian public institutions through technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and coordinated support.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also participated, discussing future support for Palestine, with a particular focus on human resource development and capacity building through technical cooperation. Participants reaffirmed the need to leverage CEAPAD’s framework to address urgent demands in Gaza reconstruction, including debris management, unexploded ordnance disposal, security, police, and law enforcement.

Alignment with International Initiatives and Future Plans

Participants confirmed that the cooperation guidelines established in the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan, adopted at the fourth Ministerial Meeting (CEAPAD IV) in July 2025, are consistent with and complementary to current regional and international initiatives. They agreed to strengthen coordination with these initiatives and maintain the momentum of CEAPAD’s revitalization by arranging a Ministerial Meeting within the year.

Background on CEAPAD

Established by Japan in 2013, CEAPAD serves as a regional conference framework to support Palestinian state-building efforts by harnessing the resources, knowledge, and experiences of East Asian countries’ economic development. Previous Ministerial Meetings were held in Tokyo (2013), Jakarta (2014), Bangkok (2018), and Kuala Lumpur (2025).

The Kuala Lumpur Action Plan 2025

Adopted at the fourth Ministerial Meeting in July 2025, the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan provides a guideline for future cooperation, supporting the Palestinian people’s state-building efforts. It focuses on humanitarian response in Gaza, early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, economic development and state-building, and reforms, identifying areas where CEAPAD members can contribute their strengths and expertise.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan