Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan completed a
three-day visit to Tokyo, the first leg of travels that will also
take him on to Singapore and Pakistan. While in Tokyo the
Crown Prince met with Prime Minister Koizumi and other officials
to discuss the broad spectrum of Saudi-Japanese relations.
They concluded a memorandum of understanding on political
consultations and noted the agreement to open free trade talks
between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
As a follow-up to the SUSRIS
IOI several days ago describing the Crown Prince's visit,
today we are pleased to present reporting from Khaled Almaenna of Arab
News on the Tokyo meetings. His article is followed by
excerpts of other reports on Crown Prince Sultan's visit and links
to related reports.
Khaled Almaenna, Arab News
TOKYO, 7 April 2006 � Saudi Arabia and Japan
yesterday called for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and
wanted diplomacy to end the row over Iran�s nuclear program.
Crown Prince Sultan and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued
the joint call after official talks in Tokyo.
�Both sides stressed the importance of urging
all the states in the Middle East to accede to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty of nuclear weapons and making the Middle
East region free from all weapons of mass destruction and their
delivery means,� a joint statement said.
The crown prince and Koizumi �confirmed the
importance of supporting the international diplomatic efforts that
aim at non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as well as working for
a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.�
The joint statement also called for finding a
just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, adding
that such a solution was essential to reinforce peace and
stability in the Middle East. It also emphasized the need for
accepting the results of Palestinian elections held in January
2006 as a step toward the formation of an independent Palestinian
state.
Sultan and Koizumi also pledged to cooperate on
Iraq, supporting its �stability and territorial integrity and
promoting its national unity and equality among all groups of the
Iraqi people.�
Sultan promised that the Kingdom would do what
is needed to meet Japan�s energy requirements. Koizumi noted
Saudi Arabia�s vital role in stabilizing the international oil
market, being the world�s largest oil producer and exporter.
During his meeting with Koizumi, Prince Sultan
expressed satisfaction over the progress in bilateral relations
over the past years, wishing that the ties would grow stronger in
coming years.
The
crown prince and Koizumi later witnessed the signing of a
memorandum of understanding for political consultation. State
Minister for Foreign Affairs Nizar Madani and Japanese Foreign
Minister Taro Aso signed the agreement.
Keiichi Konaga, chairman of the Saudi-Japanese
Friendship Society on the Japanese side, briefed Koizumi on the
society�s activities and its efforts in promoting Saudi-Japanese
ties.
Konaga noted the initiative taken by Sultan to
establish the organization in 1960 when he first visited Japan.
Sultan gave $500,000 to the society as a donation from the Saudi
government.
Sultan, who arrived here on Wednesday on a
three-day visit, met separately with Emperor Akihito at the
imperial palace. Crown Prince Naruhito was present at the palace
to receive the Saudi crown prince and his delegation.
Talking to Prince Sultan, Akihito underscored
the historic relations between the two countries. �Your royal
highness� present visit is an affirmation of our deep-rooted
relations,� he said.
The emperor hoped that the royal visit would
take Saudi-Japanese ties to new heights.
In his speech, Prince Sultan thanked the
emperor for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation.
�We in Saudi Arabia are proud of the friendly
relations and cooperation with Japan,� the crown prince said.
He praised Japan�s important role in the
region as well as in the world. �We wanted to expand our
cooperation with Japan and work together to resolve Middle Eastern
and international issues,� he added.
Akihito
hosted a luncheon in honor of Prince Sultan, which was attended by
top Saudi and Japanese officials including Saudi princes, Economy
and Planning Minister Khaled Al-Gosaibi, Naruhito and Foreign
Minister Aso.
The joint statement welcomed the decision to
start free-trade negotiations between Japan and the Gulf
Cooperation Council, which groups Saudi Arabia, Qatar,
Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Japan said yesterday it would launch free-trade
talks with the GCC countries that provide three-quarters of its
oil imports. According to a statement issued by the Trade Ministry
in Tokyo, Japanese officials will meet their GCC counterparts in
Riyadh next month to prepare for the negotiations.
�It is important to form and maintain
friendly relations including economic ones with GCC states in
terms of our country�s energy security and trade,� the
ministry said in a statement.
Japan and GCC are expected to reach an FTA deal
by 2008, according to business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Japan
hopes to use the talks to reduce the six states� five-percent
tariffs on most imports and to help Japanese companies export more
automobiles and construction machinery, the daily said.
In their joint statement, Sultan and Koizumi
expressed their satisfaction over growing joint investments. Japan
also welcomed the opening of a Saudi commercial office in Tokyo.
The two sides agreed to intensify their talks
on prospects of expanding joint investment. They will also
continue their talks to reach an agreement for the protection and
promotion of investment. Saudi Arabia supported Japan�s move to
become a permanent member of the Security Council.
The
Japanese side voiced its support for a recent statement made by
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, rejecting the
idea of clash of civilizations and calling for peaceful
coexistence of civilizations. The Saudi delegation praised
Tokyo�s role in promoting cultural dialogue and understanding.
The Saudi crown prince also met with Trade
Minister Toshihiro Nikai later in the day. On Wednesday, Nikai met
Saudi minister Al-Gosaibi. �During the meeting, Al-Gosaibi
called on Japan to boost investment and provide support for
personnel training in his country,� an official said.
Prince Sultan received the chairman and members
of the Japanese Muslim Association here Wednesday. Omar Takashi,
senior adviser to the organization, highlighted Saudi Arabia�s
important role in the Islamic world and its efforts for the
success of Islamic and Muslim causes.
Reprinted with permission of Arab
News
For more: http://www.SUSRIS.org
Saudi-Japanese
Ties Get Big Boost
Khaled Almaeena
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and
minister of defense and aviation, arrived here yesterday to a
grand welcome which reflected the historic and cordial relations
between the two countries. He was welcomed at Haneda Airport
by an unusually senior delegation headed by Crown Prince Naruhito,
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and former Prime Minister Ryutaro
Hashimoto.
�Peaceful
Coexistence Need of Hour�
Khaled Almaeena
Crown Prince Sultan yesterday called for the
peaceful coexistence of civilizations, saying humanity is badly in
need of it to stop wars and occupation of others� land by force
and prevent the spread of hate and enmity. Speaking at Tokyo�s
prestigious Waseda University after receiving an honorary
doctorate in law, Sultan also urged more cooperation in various
areas of scientific research that will be of benefit to all
humanity. �We call upon the world community to intensify
efforts in supporting peaceful and constructive coexistence among
nations and the respect of the human being, as well as rejecting
all forms of discrimination, violence, extremism and
aggression,� he said.
Peace
the Cornerstone of Saudi Foreign Policy
Khaled Almaeena
The visit of Crown Prince Sultan to Japan,
Singapore and Pakistan comes within the context of Saudi
Arabia�s active foreign policy with its Asian neighbors. The
most important objective of this policy is to create stronger
economic relationships and to strengthen existing political
relationships with these nations, especially with Japan.
Both Riyadh and Tokyo have enjoyed 50 years of uninterrupted good
relations; therefore, it is important that these relations be
continuously revitalized. In a fast-moving world of dynamic
geopolitical changes, world leaders should maintain constant
communication.
Kingdom,
Japan Call for N-Free Mideast
Khaled Almaeena
Saudi Arabia and Japan yesterday called for a
Middle East free of nuclear weapons and wanted diplomacy to end
the row over Iran�s nuclear program. Crown Prince Sultan and
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued the joint call after
official talks in Tokyo. �Both sides stressed the
importance of urging all the states in the Middle East to accede
to the Non-Proliferation Treaty of nuclear weapons and making the
Middle East region free from all weapons of mass destruction and
their delivery means,� a joint statement said.
Eastward
shift of Saudi perspective only makes sense
Editorial, Daily Star
In recent years, Saudi Arabia, which has long enjoyed a "special relationship" with the United States, has been expanding its strategic and economic alliances with other states. Since assuming the throne, King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz has been directing the kingdom's focus away from the West and toward the countries of the East. This shift was highlighted by the fact that King Abdullah's first foreign destination after assuming the throne in August 2005 was China. The monarch's first foreign tour - which also took him to India, Malaysia and Pakistan - symbolized the kingdom's shift away from its Westward orientation. This week Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdel-Aziz carried the kingdom's eastward thrust further in Tokyo, where he agreed to start talks on a free-trade agreement between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Japan,
Saudi Arabia agree to launch FTA talks with GCC
Japan and Saudi Arabia agreed Thursday to
launch negotiations on concluding a free trade agreement between
Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which consists of six oil
producers in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Japanese
officials said.
Saudis
Look East for Higher Studies
Saudi Arabia announced [Mar. 12] that it
would send more students to Asian countries such as China, India,
Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea for higher studies in
medicine, general science and engineering. Higher Education
Minister Khaled Al-Anqari said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Abdullah has approved the move, which comes in line with
Riyadh�s new �look east� strategy.
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