Syeda Amtul

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The Japanese Consulate marked the country's National Day recently with a lavish celebration of bilateral relations at Consul General Matahiro Yamaguchi’s residence in Jeddah.



Ambassador Jamal Bakr Belkhour, director general of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Makkah province branch, was one of the guests along with Saudi businessmen, diplomats from various countries and prominent members of the Japanese community.



The event started with the national anthems of Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yamaguchi welcomed the gathering and discussed the “excellent” relationships between Japan and the Kingdom in various areas.



He added next year the two countries would celebrate the 60th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations.



He said: “Japanese and Saudi people enjoy deep friendship as a result of the mutual respect and appreciation between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Saudi Royal Family, the outstanding official relations through visits and the popular contacts through scholarship programs, trade, youth exchange programs, tourism visits and the technical cooperation between the universities and institutes of the two countries.



“We have more than 90 Japanese companies working in the Kingdom, of which 40 are active in the Western Region; we have mega joint venture projects for the benefit of our two friendly people; and Japan is ready to give more in the fields of renewable energy, water, infrastructure, metro and railway projects and all development projects needed by the Kingdom.”



He praised the attention the Kingdom’s government, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, paid to development projects in infrastructure, energy, railways and water.



He said Japan was ready to provide its expertise to the Kingdom. Yamaguchi along with Belkhour and other diplomats cut the ceremonial cake.



Japanese car companies also participated at the event by displaying their luxury 2015 model vehicles.