RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Riyadh and discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly the crude oil supply from Saudi Arabia to Japan.
The two officials discussed bilateral relations and explored avenues for further cooperation across diverse sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
They underscored the deep strategic and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan and stressed the importance of sustained coordination and collaboration to benefit both countries and their citizens.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iwaya expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s long-standing, stable supply of crude oil and voiced hope that the Kingdom would continue to play a leading role in maintaining stability in the global oil market.
The ministry said that Prince Faisal “reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the stable supply of crude oil to Japan” and called for improved cooperation in the crude oil sector, as well as in clean energy.
The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of space and defence.
They also agreed to move forward with the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Council, following the memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in February.
Saudi ambassador to Japan, Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, and Saud Al-Sati, deputy minister for political affairs, attended the meeting.
Saudi Arabia and Japan are also commemorating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
As part of this milestone, Tokyo is symbolically passing the baton to Riyadh—transitioning from Expo 2025 in Osaka, which concludes in October, to the upcoming Riyadh Expo 2030, the ministry noted.
During their meeting, Prince Faisal and Minister Takeshi also addressed key regional and global issues, including the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks, the war in Ukraine, and joint efforts to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On Thursday, Takeshi also held talks with Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi to discuss the Gulf’s partnership with Japan in energy security.
The two officials agreed to cooperate in various areas, including politics, security, trade, and investment. They also exchanged views on Gaza, Syria, Iran, the Red Sea, and East Asia.
