By Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fumio Iwai

On the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of His Majesty the Japanese Emperor Naruhito, on February 23, I have the honor to extend my sincere congratulations and blessings to His Majesty and his esteemed family, wishing them continued health and well-being. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Saudi Gazette newspaper for giving me this opportunity to talk about the depth and strength of the relationship between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Jeddah: A New Chapter in Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030

Bilateral relations between Japan and the Kingdom have made significant progress in 2023. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Jeddah in July and the subsequent Japan-Saudi Summit with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, marked a pivotal moment. The two parties affirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in advanced science and technology, medicine, healthcare, and other areas within the framework of the "Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030". At the same summit, they agreed to establish the Japan-Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministerial Level Strategic Dialogue and welcomed the agreement to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Furthermore, they agreed to launch the "Japan-Saudi Lighthouse Initiative for Clean Energy Cooperation" as a new framework for cooperation. Additionally, the "Japan-Saudi Arabia Business Round Table" took place during his stay in Jeddah, where 26 MOUs were signed and exchanged between Japanese and Saudi companies.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations Through High-Level Official Visits

This summit paved the way for numerous official visits by senior government officials from both countries within the same year. Japan's then-Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in September, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Ken Saito, and Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Yoichi Fukazawa in December. From the Saudi side, the visits included Minister of Defence His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in August, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah bin Amir Al-Sawaha in November, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef in December, and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan in September. These visits have significantly contributed to the development of bilateral relations, allowing us to witness their tangible results.

Development of Economic Activity and Mutual Investments

The "Saudi-Japanese Investment Forum" in December was another highlight, where 14 memorandums of understanding were signed and exchanged by government agencies and private companies from both countries in various fields. This positive atmosphere has led to several Japanese companies, such as HIS, Fujifilm Healthcare, Monstarlab, Canon Medical Systems, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Avex, and AIZAWA Concrete Corporation, opening new offices and factories in the Kingdom. As the Kingdom diversifies its industries and expands its investments, bilateral cooperation is expanding into new areas such as medicine/healthcare, water, tourism, and entertainment.

Promoting Mutual Tourism Through Electronic Visa Activation

The relaxation of visa requirements, including the launch of an electronic service for issuing tourist visas to Japan and the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Saudi passport holders under certain conditions, has significantly increased travel between the two countries. The number of visas issued in 2023 was approximately four times that of 2022. Furthermore, discussions are underway to launch direct flights between Japan and Saudi Arabia. The increase in the number of Japanese tourists visiting the Kingdom and the growing interest among the peoples of both countries in exchanging tourist visits and learning about each other’s cultures are vital for enhancing bilateral relations.

In 2025, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, a milestone reflecting our true friendship and partnership. Notably, Japan will host the Osaka-Kansai Expo in the same year, and the Kingdom will host the next Expo in 2030, further strengthening our friendly ties.

In conclusion of this honorable occasion, I wish good health and well-being to the leaders of this blessed nation led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister - may God protect them – and the dear people of the Kingdom.