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Saudi Crown Prince Emphasizes Kingdom’s Commitment to Stable Oil Supplies to Japan

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds a video call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia-Japan Vision 2030 Forum. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds a video call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia-Japan Vision 2030 Forum. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Emphasizes Kingdom’s Commitment to Stable Oil Supplies to Japan

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds a video call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia-Japan Vision 2030 Forum. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds a video call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia-Japan Vision 2030 Forum. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, underscored on Tuesday the Kingdom’s commitment to maintaining the supply of crude oil to Japan, pointing to Riyadh’s desire to boost cooperation with Tokyo in other fields, including clean energy.

He made his remarks during a video call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia-Japan Vision 2030 Forum, which witnessed an agreement to announce the Saudi-Japanese Partnership Council.

Kishida expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom for the steady supplies of crude oil to his country, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leading role in stabilizing the global oil market and supporting global supply chains for clean energy.

The leaders also tackled bilateral economic and investment cooperation in energy and joint investments, research related to the climate initiative, environmental sustainability, environmental protection, and means to reduce the effects of climate change.

Crown Prince Mohammed highlighted the growth of bilateral trade exchange in recent years and the aspiration to work with Japanese companies in a number of promising fields and giant projects, stressing that Japan is Saudi Arabia’s largest investment destination.

Kishida expressed his happiness at handing over the torch of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, to Saudi Arabia in 2030, noting Japan’s effort to encourage further growth in the fields of entertainment, tourism, education and sports.

During the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Business Forum in Japan, Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced that the Kingdom had achieved new global records in reducing the cost of electricity production from wind energy, through the AlGhat and Wa’ad Alshamal projects.

The Saudi Power Procurement Company signed two power purchase agreements with a consortium led by investment conglomerate Marubeni to purchase power from the AlGhat (600 MW) and Wa’ad Alshamal (500 MW) wind projects.

The signing of the two purchase agreements came after a public competition for five bids for each project. Both projects achieved new global records for wind energy projects in terms of the total cost of electricity production.

Oil experts said Saudi Arabia’s new achievements align within the country’s efforts to diversify energy sources, boost its global position in exporting renewable and sustainable energy, as well as increasing its use of clean energy, reducing carbon emissions and preserving the environment in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

They stressed that the Kingdom possesses great capabilities in the production and export of renewable energy, such as wind, solar and hydrogen energy, as well as a suitable investment environment. They pointed to the launch of huge projects worth billions of riyals, and strategic plans that will transform Saudi Arabia into one of the most important countries that export all types of renewable energy.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, former chief advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Energy Dr. Mohammad Srour Al-Sabban said Saudi Arabia has achieved new world records in reducing the cost of producing electricity from wind energy.

He added that this was a very important step within the roadmap of Vision 2030 and its goals to raise the share of electrical production relying on renewable energy to 50 percent.

This approach will save the amount of liquid feedstock used for electric power generation, which will be liberated from oil and directed for export, in addition to reducing the cost of production in wind energy projects, he explained.

Oil expert Dr. Fahad Mohammed bin Jumah told Asharq Al-Awsat that this achievement will contribute greatly to decreasing the costs of electricity production in Saudi Arabia and achieving the Kingdom’s plans to curb the dependence on gas to about 50 percent.

Meanwhile, the forum saw the signing of more than 30 memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, manufacturing, and financial activities.

Minister of Energy and Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih met with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saito, who said Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of crude oil to Japan, and one of the most important partners in energy security.

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Business

Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
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Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)

Lebanon's government on Friday approved a draft law to distribute financial losses from the 2019 economic crisis that deprived many Lebanese of their deposits despite strong opposition to the legislation from political parties, depositors and banking officials.

The draft law will be submitted to the country's divided parliament for approval before it can become effective.

The legislation, known as the "financial gap" law, is part of a series of reform measures required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to access funding from the lender.

The cabinet passed the draft bill with 13 ministers in favor and nine against. It stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors will share the losses accrued as a result of the financial crisis.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam defended the bill, saying it "is not ideal... and may not meet everyone's aspirations" but is "a realistic and fair step on the path to restoring rights, stopping the collapse... and healing the banking sector.”

According to government estimates, the losses resulting from the financial crisis amounted to about $70 billion, a figure that is expected to have increased over the six years that the crisis was left unaddressed.

Depositors who have less than $100,000 in the banks, and who constitute 85 percent of total accounts, will be able to recover them in full over a period of four years, Salam said.

Larger depositors will be able to obtain $100,000 while the remaining part of their funds will be compensated through tradable bonds, which will be backed by the assets of the central bank.

The central bank's portfolio includes approximately $50 billion, according to Salam.

The premier told journalists that the bill includes "accountability and oversight for the first time.”

"Everyone who transferred their money before the financial collapse in 2019 by exploiting their position or influence... and everyone who benefited from excessive profits or bonuses will be held accountable and required to pay compensation of up to 30 percent of these amounts," he said.

Responding to objections from banking officials, who claim components of the bill place a major burden on the banks, Salam said the law "also aims to revive the banking sector by assessing bank assets and recapitalizing them.”

The IMF, which closely monitored the drafting of the bill, previously insisted on the need to "restore the viability of the banking sector consistent with international standards" and protect small depositors.

Parliament passed a banking secrecy reform law in April, followed by a banking sector restructuring law in June, one of several key pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the financial system.

However, observers believe it is unlikely that parliament will pass the current bill before the next legislative elections in May.

Financial reforms in Lebanon have been repeatedly derailed by political and private interests over the last six years, but Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have pledged to prioritize them.

Business

Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Türkiye's energy minister said Russia had provided new financing worth $9 billion for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant being built by ​Moscow's state nuclear energy company Rosatom, adding Ankara expected the power plant to be operational in 2026.

Rosatom is building Türkiye's first nuclear power station at Akkuyu in the Mediterranean province of Mersin per a 2010 accord worth $20 billion. The plant was expected ‌to be operational ‌this year, but has been ‌delayed.

"This (financing) ⁠will ​most ‌likely be used in 2026-2027. There will be at least $4-5 billion from there for 2026 in terms of foreign financing," Alparslan Bayraktar told some local reporters at a briefing in Istanbul, according to a readout from his ministry.

He said ⁠Türkiye was in talks with South Korea, China, Russia, and ‌the United States on ‍nuclear projects in ‍the Sinop province and Thrace region, and added ‍Ankara wanted to receive "the most competitive offer".

Bayraktar said Türkiye wanted to generate nuclear power at home and aimed to provide clear figures on targets.

Business

China Bets on Advanced Technologies to Revive Tepid Industrial Sector

A humanoid robot Tiangong by Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co, moves an orange as a demonstration at its company, during an organized media tour to Beijing Robotics Industrial Park, in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, China May 16, 2025. (Reuters)
A humanoid robot Tiangong by Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co, moves an orange as a demonstration at its company, during an organized media tour to Beijing Robotics Industrial Park, in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, China May 16, 2025. (Reuters)
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China Bets on Advanced Technologies to Revive Tepid Industrial Sector

A humanoid robot Tiangong by Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co, moves an orange as a demonstration at its company, during an organized media tour to Beijing Robotics Industrial Park, in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, China May 16, 2025. (Reuters)
A humanoid robot Tiangong by Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co, moves an orange as a demonstration at its company, during an organized media tour to Beijing Robotics Industrial Park, in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, China May 16, 2025. (Reuters)

China pledged on Friday to double down on upgrading its manufacturing base and ​promised capital to fund efforts targeting technological breakthroughs, after its industrial sector delivered an underwhelming performance this year.

China's industry ministry expects output of large industrial companies to have increased 5.9% in 2025 compared with 2024, state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday, almost unchanged from the 5.8% pace in 2024.

It would also be less than the ‌6% pace ‌of the first 11 months of ‌2025, ⁠based ​on ‌data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, as a weak Chinese economy suppressed domestic demand.

Industrial output, which covers industrial firms with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan ($2.85 million), recorded growth of 4.8% in November, the weakest monthly year-on-year rise since August 2024.

Chinese policymakers have been looking ⁠to create new growth drivers in the economy by focusing on advancing ‌its industrial sector.

China has also vowed stronger ‍efforts to achieve technological self-reliance ‍amid intensifying rivalry with the United States over dominance ‍in advanced technology.

At the annual two-day national industrial work conference in Beijing that ended on Friday, officials pledged to deliver major breakthroughs in building a "modern industrial system" anchored by advanced manufacturing.

The ​focus will be on sectors such as integrated circuits, low-altitude economy, aerospace and biomedicine, an industry ministry ⁠statement showed.

The statement comes after China launched on Friday a national venture capital fund aimed at guiding billions of dollars of capital into "key hard technologies" such as quantum technology and brain-computer interfaces.

On artificial intelligence, the industry ministry said it will expand efforts to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt the technology, while fostering new intelligent agents and AI-native companies in key industries.

Officials also vowed to "firmly curb" deflationary price wars, dubbed "involution", referring to excessive and low-return competition among ‌firms that erodes profits.