Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Japanese prime minister has said he expected a new age of synergy, prosperity and cooperation in his country’s relations with the Middle East.



“I want to help engineer an entirely new relationship marked by ties that extend into an entirely new dimension between Japan and Saudi Arabia, and between Japan and the Middle East as a whole,” Shinzo Abe said in speech at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah on Wednesday,

He said he considered his current visit, his first in six years, to the Kingdom a “major milestone” in strengthening bilateral ties.



Addressing a large crowd of Saudi businessmen and academics, Abe said: “We first seek to enhance political relations in order to promote stability in the region. Second, we seek to boost economic relations, including in the energy sector. Third, we seek to enhance cultural relations.”



The Japanese leader is on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom. He arrived in Jeddah Tuesday evening and met with Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and other top Saudi officials.



Abe said his trip to Saudi Arabia aims to seek agreements to secure energy resources in the area at low cost, while promoting the export of such Japanese technology as medical and railway systems.



“Japanese firms currently operating here in the Kingdom has really put great efforts in strengthening relations between the two countries and we look forward for more projects in order to maintain the excellent relationship in various fields,” he said. 



He noted that Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are the first and the second largest supplier of oil to Japan. “Our aim is to seek support from Kingdom and the UAE for Japan’s stable procurement of fossil fuel,” he said.



He pointed out that Japan is geared to cooperate with all Middle East countries to establish a new framework for the industrial cooperation. “I am seeking to establish a comprehensive partnership with the Middle Eastern countries for the future of Japan,” he added.



Abe said Japan would increase aid to the countries of the region to the tune of $2.2 billion.



On the Middle East peace process, he expressed his concerns over the halt to direct negotiation between Israel and Palestine. “A solution  became more urgent amid social mobilization in the Middle East due to its historic reforms, and we urge both parties to prepare for resuming negotiations under the current conditions.”



Speaking of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), he said, “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call for interfaith dialogue is a great humanitarian initiative for the peaceful coexistence of the followers of different religions and cultures.”



He added that the aim of King Abdullah’s initiative proves that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and understanding among all nations, and prohibits violence and aggression against anyone.



The prime minister accompanied by a delegation of 120 top Japanese officials and businessmen will also look for opportunities for partnerships in various sectors.