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Joint Statement on Strengthening the Bilateral Economic Relations between Japan and Qatar

November 2009

On November 19, 2009, H.E. Mr. Masayuki Naoshima, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and H.E. Mr. Koichi Takemasa, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Japanese side, and H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar on the Qatari side, held the fourth meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee in Tokyo.

1. Both sides welcomed the holding of the fourth meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee on the occasion of H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah's visit to Japan.
2. Both sides shared the common recognition that the official visit to Japan by H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar in May 2009, highlighted the advancement in strengthening the bilateral economic ties.
3. Both sides also welcomed that three Working Groups established at the first Joint Economic Committee held in November 2006, namely the Energy Working Group, the Improvement of Business Environment and Investment Working Group, and the Comprehensive Working Group, have taken place to discuss a broad range of topics. And thus three Working Groups have 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. Both sides also welcomed that The 1st session of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum is scheduled to be held in December 2009. The forum consists of a Ministerial level meeting and a business meeting. Both sides shared the common recognition to participate in the meetings in an active manner and contribute to the success of the Forum.
6. Both sides reconfirmed the importance of oil and natural gas including LNG in the mutual relationship, and recognized the importance of further promoting the bilateral cooperation in energy field based on mutually beneficial relationship between the State of Qatar, with its important role in the energy market, and Japan as the first LNG buyer for the State of Qatar as well as the biggest LNG importer in the world.

   The Japanese side expressed its recognition that Qatar would remain to be a reliable supplier of these natural resources for the world including Japan, and that the role of Qatar, which is increasing the capacity of producing LNG, would be more significant in the energy market. Meanwhile, the Qatari side expressed its intention of continuing to supply oil and natural gas including LNG to the world including Japan at mutually acceptable terms and conditions in a stable manner.

   Both sides shared the view that both market transparency and well-balanced supply and demand of energies are important to enhance market stability, and confirmed their intentions to substantiate the producer-consumer cooperation indicated in the chair's statement at The Third Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable Meeting chaired by Japan and the State of Qatar in Tokyo in April 2009. In this context, the State of Qatar welcomed Japan's proposal of the public-private mission for energy conservation and renewable energy to be sent in January 2010.

   Both sides shared the view that instability in energy prices is undesirable for both energy producers and consumers. Also, both sides confirmed that further enhancement of Joint Oil Data Initiative (JODI) is needed to improve market transparency which will contribute to stabilizing energy price.

   The Japanese side reported the arrival of Q-Flexes at Higashi Niigata Port. At the same time, it also reported on necessary preparations for receiving Qatari LNG tankers (Q-Flex and Q-Max) at its ports and progress on the freshwater transportation project utlizing LNG tankers. The Japanese side also expressed its intention to continue appropriate measures in an expeditious manner so as to improve and expand the transportation of LNG from Qatar. The Qatari side appreciated such Japanese efforts.

   Both sides welcomed the "Qatar-Japan Joint Seminar on Technical and Economic Energy Issues" held in Doha in February, 2009 and in Tokyo in November, 2009, in which people of both countries involved in the energy sector exchanged their views and information regarding forecast of energy demand and supply, utilization of technologies in the energy sector and other energy issues for the purpose of deepening mutual interchange and understanding, and reconfirmed the significance of promoting Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) technologies, as an effective means for future clean energy supply and a means which could contribute significantly to stabilizing the international energy market through diversification of energy resources.

   Both sides reaffirmed that they would continue discussions on concrete projects concerning the expansion of mutual investment activities, including both upstream and downstream of the energy sector, through appropriate channels.

7. Both sides stressed the firm intention to continue an approach in an active manner for the creation of better business environment for both countries based on the Action Plan established by the Business Environment and Investment Working Group so far. Both sides confirmed to discuss broad range of fields such as finance, quality management and scientific research as well as small and medium sized businesses so as to strengthen bilateral economic relations. Both sides stressed the importance of encouraging the private sector to participate in developing joint scientific research and development.
8. The Qatari side stated that Qatar Airways is planning to commence services between Narita and Doha scheduled in spring 2010, and the Japanese side welcomed this statement. Both sides expressed their expectation for promoting personal exchanges as well as increasing the flow of products and overall efficiency of transportation between the two countries, while welcoming the exchange of notes concerning the avoidance of double taxation on income in respect of the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic and the exchange of notes concerning air services by airlines of both countries.
9. Both sides also welcomed the signing of the Statement of cooperation in the field of financial intelligence to facilitate the exchange of information in assisting investigations concerning money laundering, terrorist financing and related crimes.
10. Both sides reiterated the importance of expanding mutual investment opportunities between the two countries, and emphasized the need to start, at the earliest time possible, the negotiation on a bilateral investment agreement.
11. Both sides confirmed that a bilateral investment agreement and the Japan-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) FTA under negotiations are expected to contribute to further strengthening the economic and business relations between Japan and Qatar as well as between Japan and the GCC States as a whole, and shared the importance of achieving early conclusions of both agreements.
12. The Japanese side emphasized the significant contribution that will be made by the wide use of environmentally friendly regional passenger aircraft being developed in Japan. The Qatari side looks with interest to this project.
13. 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 fifth meeting of the Committee as soon as possible, taking into account the discussion of each working group.