United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida underscored on Monday the strength of UAE-Japan relations during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Their discussions took place at Qasr Al Watan following an official reception ceremony to mark the start of Kishida’s official visit to the UAE.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his confidence that the visit would consolidate the robust and longstanding partnership between the two nations and support their shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future, reported the UAE’s state news agency WAM.
He noted that bilateral relations with Japan date back to before the foundation of the UAE, and that last year the two sides celebrated the 50th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic ties.
In 2022, the UAE and Japan signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a significant development in bilateral relations. This agreement, remarked Sheikh Mohamed, was a milestone that heralded the start of the next 50 years of increasing collaboration, especially in the fields of the economy, trade, technology, energy, space, and education.
The leaders discussed a number of regional and international developments, with Sheikh Mohamed highlighting that the UAE and Japan share a common goal of supporting peace and stability through building bridges of cooperation and dialogue. He noted both countries’ membership of the United Nations Security Council that works to enable further coordination to promote peace and the diplomatic resolution of conflicts worldwide.
Moreover, Sheikh Mohamed confirmed that the UAE is looking forward to Japan’s active participation at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later this year, noting Japan’s longstanding role in advancing climate action, including its hosting of COP3 and being associated with one of the most significant protocols to combat climate change: the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
For his part, Kishida thanked Sheikh Mohamed for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation. He spoke of the deep, enduring bonds between the UAE and Japan and expressed his sincere wish to continue working with Sheikh Mohamed to further elevate these ties for the benefit of both nations and their people.
Following the meeting, a luncheon was held in honor of Kishida and his accompanying delegation.
Sheikh Mohamed and Kishida later oversaw the exchange of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements aimed at further strengthening the robust and longstanding ties between their countries.
The MoUs and agreements, which build upon the UAE-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, were exchanged between Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; and Yoshihiko Isozaki, Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary.
The agreements included an MoU between the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, related to the area of agriculture and fisheries; an MoU between the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, related to the field of tourism and an MoU in the field of education between the UAE Ministry of Education and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Another MoU was exchanged between the UAE Space Agency and the Japanese Cabinet Office; the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, related to space activities for peaceful purposes.
A Joint Declaration of Intent was announced between the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, related to the establishment of an Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA).
Further memoranda and agreements were announced between government agencies and private entities in both nations, spanning key sectors including sustainability, space science, technology, the environment, renewable energy, transportation, healthcare, infrastructure, industry, and others.
