Cairo: Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsi engaged in a crucial meeting with a delegation from Japan's House of Councillors, along with His Excellency Iwai Fumio, the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt. The meeting, which took place at the ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, included key figures such as Eng. Margaret Sarofim, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity, and Ms Randa Faris, Adviser to the Minister on Family, Women and Child Health and Development.According to State Information Service Egypt, the minister began the proceedings by acknowledging the enduring strategic relations between Egypt and Japan, highlighting the continuous development across various fields. Discussions at the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two nations in areas such as early childhood and elderly care, along with Japanese development projects underway in Egypt.Dr Morsi expressed appreciation for the strategic collaboration with Japan, particularly on the national early childhood proj ect, which stands as a model partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese Embassy in Egypt. She lauded the initiative's success in leveraging Japan's educational expertise and investment in early childhood as a cornerstone for development.The minister underscored the value of Japan's annual training program, which facilitates study visits and learning opportunities in early childhood and disability fields. Egyptian trainees have begun applying insights from these visits, particularly in the ministry's nursery in the New Administrative Capital. She noted that several new nurseries, including those at the Ministries of Social Solidarity and Justice, are incorporating elements of the Japanese curriculum adapted to the Egyptian context.Dr Morsi revealed the findings of Egypt's first national census of nurseries conducted in 2025, which reported 48,225 registered nurseries with over 1.7 million children enrolled. These findings will guide future targeted interventions, em phasizing strategic expansion and capacity building for service providers. The aim is to apply Japanese standards in a manner suited to Egypt's needs, enhancing facilities, activities, and training programs.The minister also highlighted Egypt's interest in learning from Japan's experience in elderly care, noting that Egypt's law for the care and rights of older persons is nearing completion. The ministry is evaluating various models to improve care quality for older adults.In addition, Dr Morsi addressed collaborative efforts to combat violence against women, citing the ministry's work with the National Council for Women and the Mouwada program, which prepares couples for marriage.The Japanese delegation expressed admiration for the Egyptian-Japanese cooperation in early childhood and commended Egypt's commitment to adopting Japanese methodologies. They confirmed their intention to extend collaboration in elderly care, proposing their comprehensive senior care program as a foundation for future joint ef forts.