In Japan, Saudi Arabia's crown prince eyes expansion of energy, defense ties
In an upcoming visit to Tokyo, the Saudi crown prince will have an audience with the Japanese prime minister, among others, to discuss a "broad range" of issues.
For the first time since 2019, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be visiting Tokyo on Monday for a three-day trip that will see him hold talks with the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have an audience with Emperor Naruhito and attend a “court luncheon.”
According to the Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi, Kishida will be discussing a “broad range” of issues with his royal guest regarding the Middle East and the global community.
Focused on energy and trade, Saudi-Japanese ties are durable and devoid of any complications. As the fourth-largest global economy, Tokyo is crucial for Saudi Vision 2030, while Riyadh is important for Japan’s energy security.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the kingdom became Japan’s eighth-biggest trading partner last year, with bilateral trade reaching $42 billion.
