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Tokyo Offers 36 Opportunities to Boost “Joint Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030” | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Photo caption: Trade minister Hiroshige Seko greets economic policymakers from the Saudi Arabian government after their meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. | KYODO


Riyadh – Saudi-Japanese relations will see a great boost as 38 Japanese companies have offered Saudi Arabia 36 cooperation opportunities in the areas of energy, industry, renewable energy, infrastructure and entertainment within Tokyo’s initiative to work with Riyadh to achieve “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030”.

Japanese and Saudi ministers met in Riyadh on Sunday to announce the Joint Saudi-Japanese Group for Vision 2030, and to agree on the means to advance bilateral cooperation in fields such as network-connected devices and renewable energy.

Japanese Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko said the occasion marks the beginning of bilateral cooperation in a concrete form.

The ministerial-level meeting was attended by Adel Al Fakih, Saudi minister of economy and planning, among other officials.

The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Council of Saudi Chambers.

Sources said that Saudi and Japanese ministers also agreed on Japanese support in such areas as talent development in animation and video games, energy conservation and nuclear power, martial arts seminars and athletic training.

Last month, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an official visit to Tokyo.

The Japanese premier expressed his country’s interest in Saudi Vision 2030 and the desire to discuss areas of partnership in this regard, expressing his country’s appreciation for the Kingdom’s leading role in establishing security and stability in the Middle East.

Prince Mohammed’s visit to Tokyo saw the signing of seven memoranda of understanding, including a memorandum of cooperation for enhancing cultural exchange between the Saudi ministry of culture and information and the Japanese foreign ministry; a memorandum of cooperation to protect copyright between the ministry of commerce and investment and Japanese ministry of economy, trade and industry; a memorandum of cooperation in the field of small and medium enterprises, as well as a memorandum of cooperation in a number of areas of energy between the ministry of energy, industry and mineral resources and Japanese ministry of economy, trade and industry.