- ARAB NEWS
- 01 May 2025
Since 1975
TOKYO: The Foreign Ministers of Japan and Saudi Arabia met in Tokyo on Monday for the Second Japan-Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue and signed a Memorandum for Establishing a Strategic Partnership Council, Japan’s Foreign Ministry reported.
The Ministers also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Mutual Exemption of Short-Stay Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic, Special/ Official Passports.
Japan Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi hosted the meeting, which also included a working dinner, and noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
With a shared vision for a more stable Middle East, Iwaya expressed the mutual desire of Japan and Saudi Arabia to deepen their strategic partnership, offering hope for peace and stability in the region.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said he would like to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries under the newly launched Strategic Partnership Council.
The two ministers had a frank exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East – particularly Palestine and Israel, Syria, and the Red Sea – and the situation elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific region.
Iwaya said that with the balance of power in the Middle East undergoing changes and the international security environment becoming unstable, Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic role in working towards peace and stability in the Middle East is becoming increasingly important. He said Japan would continue its diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East in cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other concerned countries.
Foreign Minister Faisal explained Saudi Arabia’s efforts towards achieving a “Two-State Solution” for the Palestinian issue and Syria’s reconstruction. He thanked Japan for its continued efforts and hoped it would play an even more active role. The ministers reaffirmed their intention to continue cooperating on these issues while making use of regional and international frameworks such as the GCC.
Iwaya expressed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s long-standing and stable supply of crude oil to Japan and hoped that the Kingdom would continue to play a leading role in the stabilization of the global crude oil market.
He also welcomed the progress in cooperation on clean energy, which is being carried out using Japanese technology under the “Lighthouse Initiative” that the leaders of both countries agreed on in July 2023.
Prince Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia would continue to commit to a stable supply of crude oil to Japan and expressed his hope that cooperation between the two countries would further progress in clean energy, critical minerals, and other areas.
The two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their relations in various fields, including tourism, culture, sports, and entertainment, ensuring a promising future for their cooperation.
