Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, met with Kenzo Hiroki, Advisor to the Emperor of Japan on Water Affairs and Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Water, to discuss strengthening co-operation and coordination between the two countries ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The meeting focused on preparations for the third Interactive Dialogue on Water and Planet (ID-C), which will be held as part of the conference, as well as the outcomes of recent related meetings.
The two sides stressed the importance of continued consultation and exchange of views in the coming period to unify positions and support joint ideas on water and climate issues. They also agreed to hold a joint ministerial meeting soon to continue discussions on the matter.
Sweilem praised Japan’s efforts in supporting the Interactive Dialogue on Water and Planet and promoting water and climate issues internationally. He highlighted the need for continued co-ordination between Egypt and Japan regarding the dialogue’s messages and recommendations to ensure a unified vision before presenting them at the global level.
He also stressed the importance of building on the outcomes of the 2023 UN Water Conference, with a greater focus on practical implementation mechanisms during preparations for the 2026 conference.
He said that discussions on water and climate should include clear and applicable solutions to achieve targeted goals.
The meeting also reviewed the action plan for the interactive dialogue and ongoing co-ordination efforts between the Egyptian and Japanese sides.
Preparations for an upcoming event during the 4th Dushanbe Conference in Tajikistan, scheduled for May 26–27, 2026, were also discussed.
