Abdulrahman Al-Habib Saudi Gazette RIYADH – Kodera Jiro, Ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia, has commended the outstanding quality development witnessed by the Kingdom since the foundation era by King Abdul Aziz and other kings Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd till the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The ambassador said that history showed that the eighty-three years of the Kingdom was full of achievement and continuous progress and that the Kingdom was going according to well-established and drawn plans. This was enhanced by the importance of the Kingdom religiously, politically and economically in the region. He added that the Kingdom is a country with a strong influence in the process of international peace and economic balance. He described King Abdullah as a beloved leader where he said “during my stay and my work in Riyadh I have noticed the deep love and bonding between King Abdullah and his people.” He added that this gives a clear indication and reflects the stability and the continuous and constructive prosperity in the Kingdom, and distinguishes it from some of the other Arab countries which are facing stifling crises that weaken their security and stability and paralyze their construction and development. On the other hand, Ambassador Jiro stressed the depth of relationships and linkages between Japan and the Kingdom for more than 58 years which were rooted and deepened by the many mutual visits between the two countries, including visits in recent years by King Abdullah in October of 1998 when he was crown prince, by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz in April of the same year when he was a governor of Riyadh region, by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, God's mercy in April 2006, and by Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, the former defense minister in March 2013; and the visit of the Japanese side by Crown Prince Naruhito in November 1994, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister in April 2007, Foreign Minister Gemba in January 2013 and Prime Minister Abe for the second time in April 2013. In addition, the visit of Crown Prince Naruhito to offer condolences on the death of princes Sultan and Nayef Bin Abdulaziz. The Japanese ambassador said the two countries are always seeking a steady pace on the continued growth and stability in the global economy, especially with regard to oil market, as well as attention to issues of global security and international cooperation through their membership in the United Nations and its adjunct organization and also their common membership in the G20 countries. The two countries promote peace and stability in the Middle East region, especially the Palestinian issue, the Syrian crisis, Iran's nuclear and also on another level the issue of North Korea. Ambassador Jiro indicated the importance of partnership and cooperation between the two countries where Japan is the Kingdom's second largest partner in the world in terms of trade, with an estimated $48.2 billion of Kingdom's exports to Japan in 2011 against $8.3 billion of Japan exports to the Kingdom. Oil represents 95 percent of the Kingdom's exports, 3 percent LPG, and 2 percent other miscellaneous items, while cars and trucks represent 42 percent of Japan's exports to the Kingdom, 13 percent steel, 7 percent and tires, 3 percent machinery and 36 percent a variety of other items.
With regard to investment, Japan is considered the third largest investor in the Kingdom In 2010. The number of Japanese projects in the Kingdom was 59 projects at a total cost estimated at more than $14.6 billion. Among the most important investment projects are Razi, a joint venture between SABIC and Mitsubishi in the field of methanol project; Sharq between the same two companies, Petro Rabigh, Saudi Aramco and Japanese petrochemical Sumitomo. The Japanese ambassador also praised the close cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, water and desalination, sanitation, renewable and effective energy, trains, equipment and medical systems as well as in cultural and educational fields where more than 500 Saudi students study in Japan. Most of them are under the King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship program. The Japanese government welcomes the broadening of the cooperation in this area. The Japanese universities and other educational institutions are interested in providing all means and facilities for the Saudi students to continue their studies with a reasonable tuition fees as well as provide them with appropriate places to pray and halal foods and overcome all the difficulties they may face.
