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Joint Statement

On November 2, 2007, H.E. Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and H.E. Mr. Akira Amari, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on the Japanese side, and H.E. Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar on the Qatari side, held the second meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee in Tokyo. As the result of the meeting:

1. Both sides welcomed the holding of the second meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee on the occasion of H.E. Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah's visit to Japan.
2. Both sides shared the common understanding that the visit of H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, then Prime Minister of Japan to Qatar in May 2007 highlighted the importance to further strengthen the bilateral economic ties.
3. Both sides also welcomed that three Working Groups established at the first Joint Economic Committee held in Tokyo in November 2006, namely the Energy Working Group, the Improvement of Business Environment and Investment Working Group, and the Comprehensive Working Group, had met twice to discuss a broad range of topics to follow up the first meeting of the Joint Economic Committee as well as the Joint Statement issued there in, and thus had been playing an important role in further developing the economic relations between the two countries.
4. Both sides stressed their common intention to proceed with the Joint Economic Committee and its three Working Groups in an active and constant manner.
5. To further develop the economic relations between Japan and Qatar, both sides confirmed their firm intention to complete the Action Plan for the Improvement of Business Environment by the next meeting of the Working Group. The Action Plan should contain concrete details as far as possible, such as actions to be taken, responsible authorities or sectors to implement the actions and a time frame to carry out the actions. Both sides also reaffirmed that they would implement and follow up the Action Plan in a proactive and consistent manner at each side, involving the private sectors of the both countries concerned.
6. Both sides stressed the importance of enhancing the mutual investment opportunity between Japan and Qatar.
   
   To this end, both sides confirmed that utmost efforts should be made to continue bilateral discussions so as to promote, liberalize and protect investment between the two countries, following the Press Statement issued at the top-level meeting in Doha in May 2007 and the subsequent discussion at the Working Groups of the Joint Economic Committee.
   
   In this regard, both sides welcomed that the "Terms of Reference of the Framework of the Negotiations for the Agreement for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment between Japan and the State of Qatar" was elaborated by the Comprehensive Working Group, as a guideline for the bilateral negotiation and expressed their wishes that this negotiation should commence as expeditiously as possible.
   
   Both sides expressed their willingness to discuss the subject of the avoidance of double taxation at an appropriate time between the authorities concerned so as to reach a suitable arrangement for both countries' interests.
   
   Both sides confirmed that wide ranging economic issues such as customs, aviation, financial regulator, standards and ICT will be further discussed on a bilateral basis so as to enhance bilateral economic relationship.
7. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and cooperation between energy producers and consumers aimed at their mutual benefit.
8. To stabilize the global energy market and thus to contribute to the healthy growth of the global economy, both sides confirmed their firm determination to play a responsible role in the global energy market through bilateral and multilateral dialogues, enhancing the strong tie between Japan as the first Qatari LNG user and Qatar as the world's largest LNG supplier.
9. The Japanese side reported that it had already completed necessary preparations for receiving new Qatari LNG tankers (Q-Flex) at Higashi Niigata Port this October and expressed its intention to take appropriate measures at other ports in an expeditious manner so as to improve and expand the transportation of LNG from Qatar.
10. The Qatari side appreciated such Japanese efforts and expressed its view that Qatar would endeavor to supply oil and natural gas including LNG to Japan at an acceptable rate for both sides in a stable manner. The Japanese side appreciated this and expressed its intention to continuously cooperate in the ongoing and upcoming LNG projects, and the Qatari side welcomed such Japanese intention.
11. Both sides reconfirmed the significance of promoting Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) projects, as an effective means for future clean energy supply and a means which could contribute significantly to stabilize the international energy market through diversification of energy resources.
12. Both sides, based upon the consensus achieved at the top-level meeting in Doha, May 2007, reaffirmed that they would continue discussions on concrete projects concerning the expansion of mutual investment activities in a broad range of areas, including the up- and the down-stream of the energy sector through appropriate channels.
13. Both sides emphasized the importance of holding the third round of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Both sides shared the view that the early conclusion of the FTA negotiation would lead to further strengthening bilateral economic relations, achieving a high-level liberalization of the trade in goods and services.
14. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of continuing discussions on the way to strengthen the bilateral economic relations under the framework of the Joint Economic Committee and decided to convene the third meeting of the Committee as soon as possible, taking into account the discussion of each working group.