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Saudi-Japanese Defense Accord Signed during Deputy Crown Prince’s Visit to Tokyo | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, poses with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito at the entrance of the Togu Palace in Tokyo, Friday. AFP


Tokyo-The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding for defense cooperation.

Both Saudi Minister of Defense Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Japanese counterpart Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada oversaw the signing which took place on Friday at the ministry’s quarters in Tokyo.

Aside from signing the accord, and in the attendance of many defense and military officials, recent developments in the Middle East were discussed.

Earlier, Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Inada addressed bilateral defense and military relations between the two countries and ways and means to further enhance them, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito had received Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who in turn expressed appreciation of the hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman had later met Osamu Ishitobi, Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman of the Sumitomo Chemical Company.

During the meeting, they discussed the company’s huge investment in Rabigh City in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has described Saudi Arabia as an important economic partner and a key player in the region’s stability.

Moreover, Prince Mohammed bin Salman had met with the Chairman of Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East, and discussed partnership shared by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Fourth Japanese Industrial Revolution.

On the other hand, Saudi Aramco and Iwatani co-signed an amendment to an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The accord binds them to improve liquefied petroleum gas relief program, in emergency situations, which was launched for the first time in 2009.

The ceremony took place on the sidelines of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ongoing visit.

The MoU was signed on behalf of Saudi Aramco by vice president of the company’s international business Saeid Hadrami, while it was signed on behalf of the Iwatani company by the chief executive officer, Takashi Vonaka.