Saudi Gazette Report

JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman promised stable oil supplies to Japan during a video conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency and the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in separate statements.

The virtual meeting, which lasted for about 35 minutes, focused mainly on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation. The two leaders agreed to establish Saudi-Japanese Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) to enhance bilateral relations comprehensively and an announcement was made in this regard during the meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, Kishida wished Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman a speedy recovery and good health. The prime minister expressed his aspiration for the visit of the Crown Prince to Japan in the near future.

On his part, the Crown Prince expressed gratitude for Japan’s understanding after he had to put off his visit. He postponed on Monday the visit to Japan, which was scheduled for May 20-23, due to the health condition of King Salman. Prince Mohammed bin Salman had been scheduled to meet with Kishida and Japanese Emperor Naruhito during the visit. The Crown Prince conveyed his eagerness to reinforce ties and his intent to visit Japan soon.

The two leaders reviewed the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and opportunities for developing them in various fields. They discussed regional and international developments and the efforts made to address them, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

The Palestine issue was also figured in their talks. The Crown Prince and Kishida discussed the efforts made to stop Israeli attacks, deliver humanitarian aid, support efforts aimed at international recognition of the independent Palestine State, and support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Kishida briefed on Japan’s diplomatic efforts to end conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The Crown Prince told Kishida that Saudi Arabia remains committed to the stable supply of crude oil to Japan and that Saudi Arabia would like to cooperate with Japan in other areas including the field of clean energy. The Japanese premier expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom for the stable supplies of crude oil to Japan, looking forward to the Kingdom continuing its leadership role in stabilizing the global oil market and supporting global supply chains for clean energy.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman noted the trade exchange and its growth in recent years between the two countries. The Crown Prince expressed his aspiration to cooperate with Japanese companies in a number of promising fields and huge projects, pointing out that Japan is the largest investment destination for the Kingdom. He welcomed the resumption of negotiations and anticipated further economic cooperation beyond the energy sector. Crown Prince acknowledged Japan’s cultural prowess and looked forward to stronger cooperation in these areas as well.

Kishida highlighted the 70th anniversary of relations between the two friendly countries, stressing that cooperation with the Kingdom contributes to the stability of the region. He also referred to the cultural cooperation between the two countries in holding the Expo in both countries. The prime minister expressed his happiness at passing the torch of the Expo to Saudi Arabia in 2030 from Osaka’s Expo 2025. He also noted Japan’s endeavor to encourage further growth in the fields of entertainment, tourism, education and sports.

Discussing energy security and clean energy, Prime Minister Kishida thanked Saudi Arabia for its consistent crude oil supply and hoped for continued support in stabilizing the global oil market. He also proposed collaboration in establishing a global supply chain for clean energy, like hydrogen and ammonia, leveraging Japanese technology under the “Lighthouse Initiative.”

On economic diversification and resilience, Kishida invited direct investments from Saudi Arabia across various sectors, including construction, power, and digital technologies. He also emphasized the importance of concluding the Japan-GCC Free Trade Agreement soon, which is set to resume negotiations