JEDDAH — Japan's Consul General Matahiro Yamaguchi has highlighted the strategic relations that bind together his country and Saudi Arabia. He made the remarks in a statement to Saudi Gazette on the occasion of commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in June 1955. “This year the anniversary falls in the holy month of Ramadan. I would like to congratulate the Saudi leadership and people and all Muslims on this occasion,” Yamaguchi said. He pointed out that the strategic Japanese-Saudi relations are based on the mutual respect and common interests. The deep friendship between the Japanese Imperial Family and Saudi Royal Family has played a great role in the progress of the relations between the two countries, he added. Yamaguchi said Japan is the third largest trading partner for the Kingdom, while the Kingdom is Japan's biggest source of oil supplies. The volume of trade between the two countries last year amounted to $56 billion and Japan ranked fifth in terms of direct foreign investment in the Kingdom with estimated $15 billion investments. Yamaguchi said Japan is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in infrastructure development, including metro projects, in addition to renewable energy, scholarship and youth exchange programs and vocational training.
