Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission in Japan in Tokyo held a symposium on the occasion of the 92nd Saudi National Day, with the participation of cultural attaché, Dr. Ahmed Al-Zahrani and Professor TSUJIGAMI Namie from Sophia University and the Saudi Students Club.

The event started with the Saudi royal anthem after which the cultural attaché Ahmed Al-Zahrani delivered a speech online in which he expressed his thanks and gratitude to the wise leadership of his country, his own thanks as well as on behalf of the attaché’s affiliates and Saudi students. After welcoming the distinguished guests, he spoke about the importance of celebrating the Saudi National Day.

The program was managed by the Saudi Students Club under the supervision of the attaché, where the program was presented by student Malika Al-Bukhari and student Fawaz Hariri.

TSUJIGAMI Namie from Sophia University gave a lecture entitled “Women’s Rise and Participation in Society”. It was followed by a doctoral student at the University of Tokyo, Hussam Amanullah Bukhari, who gave a speech under the title “The Kingdom’s Vision 2030”.

Hussam spoke about the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”, which aims to make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a “leading and excellent global model” in all fields.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a strategic plan to reform Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil as well as create a “vibrant society” within a moderate Islamic nation.

On the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan, Hussam said that Saudi Arabia is the largest stable supplier of oil to Japan. In turn, Japan supplies the Kingdom with its high-quality products and technology including its investment in large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia such as oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

A new era of partnership between the two countries was established with the “Japan and Saudi Vision 2030” when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo decided to establish a joint group on September 1, 2016. The vision included cooperation in broad areas such as cultural exchange, entertainment, tourism and education in addition to the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the University of Tokyo and the Misk Foundation to establish the Mohammed bin Salman Center for Future Science Technology.

The Saudi Students Club presented a traditional Saudi dance “Al Ardah” with the use of swords. The audience enjoyed the regular and attractive movements of the dance.

At the end of the event, Mr. Adel Al-Otaibi presented certificates of thanks and appreciation to TSUJIGAMI Namie and the student Hussam Bukhari for their lectures, as well as to the Saudi club’s students in appreciation of their successful participation in the program.

The celebration was followed by a lunch. The symposium created a good opportunity for the Saudi and Japanese students to deepen their friendships as both parties expressed their desire to participate in other activities in the immediate future.