Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

KSA, Japan to Launch Cooperation in Water Desalination and Oil | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Japanese Emperor Akihito receives Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his office in Tokyo (SPA)


Riyadh – Two months following the first meeting of the “Joint Saudi-Japanese 2030 Vision Group”, a high-ranking Japanese official said that discussions were underway to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy and water desalination.

Kasutuyuchi Ishikawa, advisor at the Japanese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday that the official visit conducted by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Japan in September has pushed forward cooperation between the two countries and resulted in the announcement of the “Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030”.

The Japanese official added that around 30 ministries in both countries were working on achieving the Vision goals, noting that economic relations between the Kingdom and Japan were focused on industry and oil, in addition to natural resources and water desalination.

“We are deploying efforts to strengthen economic relations and diversify the sources of commercial exchange, which would make relations between Moscow and Riyadh more comprehensive,” Ishikawa said.

He also said that Saudi Arabia and Japan could cooperate in the financial and banking sectors, which would have positive repercussions on both countries’ economies.

On the security and defense levels, the Japanese adviser said that Saudi and Japanese officials were exchanging visits to cooperate in this matter, adding that his country was seeking to learn from Saudi Arabia’s experience in dealing with terrorist organizations.

Commenting on Iran’s interference in affairs of regional countries, Ishikawa stressed Tokyo’s rejection to all forms of interference in other countries’ internal affairs.

Last October, Riyadh hosted the first “Joint Saudi-Japanese 2030 Vision Group”, during which Tokyo has presented more than 36 opportunities to promote the Vision, mainly in the fields of energy, investment, finance, capacity building and sports.