Bilateral Relations

Outline of Japan- Yemen Relationship can be shown as below according to 3 phases of the time.

1. During the Imam Age

   In May, 1938, Prince Hussein, 3rd son of Imam Yahya of Yemen, visited Japan to participate in the opening ceremony of YOYOGI Mosque in Japan, and met His Majesty Emperor of Japan to submit a letter from Imam Yahya to His Majesty Emperor. Prince Hussein stayed in Japan till January 1939, and he did preparatory negotiation upon a trade agreement between Japan and Yemen.

2. During 1960s to 1990

   Japan had good relations with North Yemen and South Yemen even before the unification in 1990 through visits of VIPs of Japan and Yemen. In 1960, His Imperial Highness Crown Price of Japan (now His Majesty Emperor) visited South Yemen. Japan’s development cooperation with Yemen started in the mid 1970’s and this cooperation is one of the pillars of the bilateral relationship.

   With North Yemen, Japan recognized it in May, 1963 and opened its Embassy in 1976, and Embassy of North Yemen was opened in Tokyo in June, 1981.
   With South Yemen, Japan recognized it in December, 1967, and Embassy of South Yemen in Tokyo was set up in May, 1974 and closed in June, 1982. And Japan opened its Embassy in South Yemen in May, 1977.

3. After 1990
   (a) Diplomatic relations

   After the unification of Yemen in May 23, 1990, Japan swiftly recognized the unified Yemen. And Yemen side did, in 1990, set up Yemen-Japan Friendship Association in Sana’a, and on the other hand, Japan-Yemen Friendship Association was done in December 1996 in Tokyo: On the parliamentarian’ level, Japan-Yemen Parliamentarians’ Friendship Association was established in 1987, and that of Yemeni side was accordingly launched in 2000.
   And after 1990, both of Japan and Yemen have exchanged many VIPs of the two countries in addition to the grass-root communication among the peoples; The years of 1999 and 2005 have witnessed the visits of the former president Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh to Japan, which have indeed solidified the bilateral relationships in the fields of economic cooperation, economic and social development, trade/investment, and multilateral cooperation in the UN to name a few.( Joint Press Statement )
   These years have witnessed an increased number of mutual exchange visits, political or cultural, and training courses organized by JICA. As a result of Yemen’s positive image in Japan, the number of Japanese tourists to Yemen has increased year by year.

   (b) Economic Cooperation is one of the pillars of Japan- Yemen relationship.

   Japan recognizes that Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the region and is in great need of foreign aid to promote economic and social development. Therefore, over the past three decades, Japan has provided grant aid and technical cooperation as well as YEN loans to support these developments.
   Japan is committed, through its economic cooperation based on ODA principles, to support Yemen’s endeavors for nation-building, promoting development, economic reforms and democracy. This is in line with the DPPR　(Development Plan for Poverty Reduction) and MDGs　(Millennium Development Goals) to which the Yemen Government is committed.

1. Trade Figures（2010 Yemeni Government Statistics）
   • Japan’s export to Yemen:182.4 million USD
   • Japan’s import from Yemen: 43 million USD
2. Major trade items
   • Japan’s export to Yemen : Machinery, Car
   • Japan’s import from Yemen : Oil, Coffee

From Japan to Yemen

From Yemen to Japan

• Sept 1989 Exchange of Notes to dispatch JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)
• Sept 1993 Modification of Exchange of Notes to dispatch JOCV
• Nov 1993 Technical Cooperation Agreement

• （1）Mr. Kazuhiro HIGASHI, Chargé d'Affairs of Japan to Yemen
• （2）Mr. Adel Ali Ahmed ALSUNAINI, Ambassador of Yemen to Japan

　　Yemen is located on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, positioned geopolitically at an important cross-point of the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. Japan depends on 70% of its oil being transported through this region. Therefore, instability in Yemen could have a direct impact on the Japanese economy as well as the stability of the GCC countries.
　　Among the Arab countries, Yemen shares with Japan the basic common values of democratization and a market-based economy. Yemen can play an important role supporting Japan’s new pillar of diplomacy called “Creating an Arc of Freedom and Prosperity”. Japan’s ODA will be an effective diplomatic tool, used efficiently for the benefit of Yemen.
　　Japan is ready to cooperate with the Yemen Government to support the many needy sectors. Japan will be using different schemes to upscale the volume of Japan’s ODA to Yemen.

ODA Rolling Plan for the Republic of Yemen (As of April 2023)