UAE and Japan strengthen bilateral ties in various sectors

Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, held series of high-level meetings with senior Japanese government and business leaders.

According to state news agency WAM, the meetings focused on UAE’s preparations to host COP28 in 2023 and strengthen economic, energy and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

During the three-day working visit to Japan, Dr Al Jaber met  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior Japanese government officials.

HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology met with HE @MatsunoHirokazu Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, to discuss new opportunities to capitalize on the long and strong ties between #UAE and #Japan ???? pic.twitter.com/fOu0ApH0c1

— وزارة الصناعة والتكنولوجيا المتقدمة (@MoIATUAE) June 7, 2022

At the meetings, Dr Al Jaber  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 per cent 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.

“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,” he said.

HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology met with Japan’s Minister of @METI_JPN HE Hagiuda Koichi, to discuss new opportunities for economic and industrial development, #energy cooperation and the hydrogen value chain ???? pic.twitter.com/ifVj6nL125

— وزارة الصناعة والتكنولوجيا المتقدمة (@MoIATUAE) June 7, 2022

The meetings were built on the solid foundations of 50 years of close economic and diplomatic co-operation between the UAE and Japan.

Dr Al Jaber’s also reviewed ongoing joint initiatives between the UAE and Japan in hydrogen and low-carbon blue ammonia and highlighted the ambition of the UAE and Japan to harness new commercially feasible technologies to reduce carbon emissions.

The last 12 months have witnessed further economic co-operation between the UAE and Japan, with the signing of an agreement between ADNOC and three Japanese companies, INPEX Corporation, JERA Co. Inc and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation to explore the commercial potential of blue ammonia production in the UAE.

Both countries also agreed to cooperate on fuel ammonia and carbon recycling technologies following a Memorandum of Cooperation between ADNOC and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in January 2021.