Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Tokyo, Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration on energy security and the development of clean energy technologies, including hydrogen, ammonia, and recycled carbon fuels. The announcement came following a meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Saudi leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, assured Japan of the kingdom's dedication to supplying oil, particularly for Okinawa's government oil reserves in southern Japan. Prince Abdulaziz emphasized Saudi Arabia's role as Japan's largest oil exporter, meeting 40% of its total needs and maintaining a reputation as a reliable partner.
In addition to energy cooperation, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, announced the resumption of talks on a free trade agreement. The signing of a joint statement between Prime Minister Kishida and the GCC Secretary-General marked the third attempt to establish a trade pact, with previous negotiations held in 2006 and 2007.
To further strengthen their collaboration, the Saudi energy ministry, and the Japanese industry and trade ministry signed agreements to foster the development of clean hydrogen, ammonia production and its derivatives, and recycled carbon fuels. These agreements signify a shared commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions.
During the visit, Saudi Arabia's Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih revealed that 26 cooperation agreements were signed between the two countries. This reflects the broad scope of their partnership and highlights the mutual interest in expanding economic ties.
In a report by Japan's Nikkei on July 15, it was stated that Prime Minister Kishida and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were expected to discuss cooperation in rare earth resources and explore joint development projects in other countries. This indicates the potential for expanded collaboration beyond energy-related initiatives.
The trip by Prime Minister Kishida to the Middle East includes visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, underscoring Japan's efforts to engage with key regional partners and explore opportunities for economic cooperation. It is anticipated that discussions during the trip will also focus on energy market dynamics and Japan's expertise in technologies for achieving net-zero emissions.
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