Dr Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, has held series of high-level meetings with senior Japanese government and business leaders, to strengthen economic, energy and industrial cooperation between the UAE and Japan and drive low carbon growth opportunities.

The meetings also focused on the UAE’s preparations to host COP28 (28th Session of the Conference of the Parties) in 2023 and new opportunities for strategic cooperation between the UAE and Japan.

During the three-day working visit to Japan, Dr Al Jaber met with senior Japanese government officials including Hagiuda Koichi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Minister of Environment; and Odawara Kiyoshi, State Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Al Jaber also met with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary; Kihara Seiji, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary and Special Advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister; Taro Kono, Director, Liberal Democratic Party Public Affairs; Nishimura Yasutoshi, Member of the Japanese House of Representatives; and Tadashi Maeda, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

At the meetings, Dr Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE’s leadership to the government and people of Japan. He reinforced the UAE’s commitment to Japan’s energy security and said the UAE will continue to ensure reliable supplies of crude oil and liquiefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan. The UAE is Japan’s top crude oil supplier, providing over 20% of its crude oil requirement.

Dr. Al Jaber’s meetings covered a range of different topics, including the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI) between the UAE and Japan which was announced in 2018 during the visit of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the UAE. The CSPI aims to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and enable greater strategic cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Dr. Al Jaber said, “Today, Japan is one of the UAE’s largest and most important energy and trading partners. In line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, we are keen to bolster bilateral ties and further strengthen our relationship across multiple sectors, through public and private partnerships that will deliver mutually beneficial growth opportunities and create increased prosperity for both our peoples. The UAE is keen to leverage every facet of our relationship, including climate diplomacy to drive economic development, enable low-carbon growth and enhance energy security.

“The UAE-Japan relationship is underpinned by long-standing energy partnerships, and we are very pleased to be working closely with Japan to capitalize on the economic opportunities of the energy transition, strengthen industrial cooperation and expand economic and trade relations.” The meetings build on the solid foundations of 50 years of close economic and diplomatic co-operation between the UAE and Japan. Al Jaber stressed the keeness of the UAE leadership to strengthen relations with Japan.

Economic and industrial development, energy supply, hydrogen, climate action were among the key topics of Dr. Al Jaber’s discussions.

WAM