Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida embarked on a three-day trip to the Middle East, starting with his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and several countries in the region.
During his time in Saudi Arabia, Kishida held meetings with Saudi officials to foster closer ties in crucial sectors such as energy and business opportunities for Japanese enterprises. The discussions also focused on promoting an open international order as outlined in the G7 Hiroshima Summit, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman reassured Japan of the Kingdom’s commitment to guaranteeing oil supply, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role as Japan’s largest oil exporter, fulfilling 40 percent of its total needs. The two countries will also continue to collaborate in clean hydrogen and recycled carbon fuels.
Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the solid and diversifying energy relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, which have spanned over 50 years. The visit resulted in the signing of 26 cooperation agreements across various sectors, as highlighted by Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih. Japan is Saudi Arabia’s third-largest trading partner, and both nations aim to strengthen their partnership in the field of clean energy.
Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia in achieving the goals of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious plan for economic diversification. Japan is eager to contribute modern technology in the pursuit of clean energy and looks forward to collaborating with Saudi Arabia in the semiconductor industry. Additionally, Japan expressed its interest in making Saudi Arabia a key destination for investments in the mining sector.
This state visit marks the first by a Japanese leader to the Middle East since January 2020. After concluding his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Kishida will continue his trip with visits to Abu Dhabi and Qatar, further strengthening ties with the region.