Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, graced a dinner party held by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Japanese Cabinet's headquarters in Tokyo this evening. During the event, Abe delivered a speech to welcome Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Following is the text of the speech: "Your Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, We welcome the visit of Your Royal Highness to Japan anew. I have the honor of receiving you in our country after our last meeting last year, an indication to the firmness of the bilateral partnership between our two countries. May I express my sincere thanks to and gratitude for the warm welcome you have accorded to us during our previous visit. Today, we have extended invitations for this function following the announcement of the parliamentary friendship association between our two chambers, including Mr. Mantimora, member of the House of Representatives, in addition to leaders of the Japanese business community who also enjoyed your warm welcome during my last visit to Saudi Arabia. In fact, relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan go back to about 100 years when a Japanese Muslim visited Makkah to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). Ever since, the friendship between our two peoples continued to grow through the establishment of diplomatic relations following the end of the second world war in addition to contacts and exchanges with Japanese companies. Now, we would like share a pledge with your country to convey by our hands this long friendship to the coming generations. We are determined to build a new era of friendship over the coming 100 years to make our two peoples feel and share real happiness and prosperity. In conclusion, let met wish the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as well as his Crown Prince and your accompanying delegation continuous health and happiness". --More 19:30 LOCAL TIME 16:30 GMT تغريد
