Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman recently promised stable oil supplies to Japan during a virtual meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The meeting also focused on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. They agreed to establish a Saudi-Japanese Strategic Partnership Council to further strengthen their ties comprehensively.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed regional and international developments, as well as the efforts being made to address them. They also touched on the Palestine issue, with the Crown Prince and Kishida discussing efforts to stop Israeli attacks, deliver humanitarian aid, and support the recognition of an independent Palestine State. Kishida also briefed on Japan’s diplomatic efforts to end conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, the Crown Prince reassured Kishida of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to ensuring stable crude oil supplies to Japan. He expressed the Kingdom’s interest in collaborating with Japan in the field of clean energy, in addition to expanding economic cooperation beyond the energy sector. The leaders highlighted the growth in trade exchange between the two countries and discussed potential areas for cooperation in promising fields and large-scale projects.
Kishida emphasized the 70th anniversary of relations between the two countries and highlighted the importance of cooperation with Saudi Arabia for regional stability. He also mentioned cultural cooperation between the two nations, including the Expo to be held in both countries. Kishida expressed his pleasure at passing the Expo torch to Saudi Arabia in 2030, following Osaka’s Expo 2025, and encouraged further growth in entertainment, tourism, education, and sports.
In the realm of energy security and clean energy, Kishida thanked Saudi Arabia for its consistent crude oil supply and proposed collaboration in establishing a global supply chain for clean energy, leveraging Japanese technology under the “Lighthouse Initiative.” On economic diversification and resilience, Kishida invited direct investments from Saudi Arabia across various sectors and emphasized the importance of concluding the Japan-GCC Free Trade Agreement soon, with negotiations set to resume.
In conclusion, the virtual meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. The discussions focused on cooperation in various fields, including energy security, clean energy, economic diversification, and cultural exchange. Both leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening ties and enhancing cooperation in order to foster mutual benefit and regional stability.
