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

On October 4th, 2011, H.E. Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Yukio Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry on the Japanese side; and H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier and Chief of the Amiri Diwan on the Qatari side with the participation of H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saleh Abdulla Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, held the 6th meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee in Tokyo.

[Overview]

1. Both sides welcomed the holding of the 6th meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee, as well as the Energy Working Group and the Improvement of Business Environment and Investment Working Group, on the occasion of the visit of H.E. Mr. Al-Attiyah accompanied by H.E. Dr. Al-Sada and their team to Japan.
2. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the development of the bilateral relations in various fields, particularly in economic one based on a long-standing mutually beneficial relationship fostered through solid partnership between the two countries in the field of energy, and with the contribution of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee since November 2006.
3. The Japanese side expressed its heartfelt gratitude for the sympathy conveyed by the people and Government of Qatar and its generous support for the reconstruction from the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, namely its donation of 100 million US dollars and additional supply of LNG in response to increase in the demand of LNG after the Earthquake. The Japanese side expressed its appreciation for the establishment by the Qatari side of the "Reconstruction Support Committee (RSC) (tentative)" so as to discuss and identify how this kind donation could be best utilized in the reconstruction phase. Both sides confirmed that the Qatari side should decide concrete projects according to the discussion of the RSC as soon as possible and by the end of 2011.
4. The Japanese side explained its efforts to ensure the safety of Japan's agricultural products. The Japanese side committed itself to continue providing necessary information in a timely manner, including the current radioactivity level in the affected areas, and urged the Qatari side to duly relax the current restrictions on imports from Japan, which were imposed after the nuclear accident. The Qatari side pledged to review those measures.
5. Both sides reiterated the importance of further enhancing mutual understanding and trust between the two countries, noting that the year 2012 is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Qatar diplomatic relations. In this regard, both sides expressed their intention to hold a number of commemorative events and to launch projects, including an investment forum between the two countries in order to contribute to strengthening multi-layered bilateral relations.

[Energy Cooperation]

6. Both sides reconfirmed the importance of oil and LNG to their economies, and of further promoting the bilateral cooperation in the energy field, while recalling Japan was the first LNG buyer from Qatar and still is one of its largest LNG importers in the world.
7. The Japanese side expressed its hope that Qatar would continue to be a reliable supplier of these natural resources for the world, and that the State of Qatar, which is the world's largest producer of LNG, would remain to be a significant contributor to the global energy market. In this context, the Japanese side congratulated the Qatari side on the expansion of the capacity of LNG production in Qatar to 77 million tons per year in December, 2010. Meanwhile, the Qatari side expressed its intention to continue to supply oil, LPG and LNG to the world including Japan at mutually acceptable terms and conditions in a stable and reliable manner.
8. Both sides shared the view that market transparency, well-balanced supply and demand of energies are important to enhance market stability. Both sides stated that instability and excessive volatility in energy prices is undesirable for both energy producers and consumers. Both sides also confirmed that further enhancement of the Joint Organization Data Initiative (JODI) is needed to improve market transparency, which will contribute to stabilizing energy price.
9. The Japanese side explained the preparations for receiving new Qatari LNG tankers (Q-Flex and Q-Max) at its ports and reported a significant increase in the number of incoming tankers in Japan. The Japanese side expressed its intention to continue to take appropriate measures to improve and expand the transportation of LNG from Qatar to Japan in an expeditious manner. The Qatari side appreciated such efforts by Japan and expressed its satisfaction of such an increase of incoming Qatari LNG tankers to Japan.
10. Both sides reaffirmed that they will continue their discussions on concrete projects concerning the expansion of investment activities, including both upstream and downstream of the energy sector, through appropriate channels. In this regard, both sides welcomed an exploration and production sharing agreement for Block A, off Qatar, between a Japanese company and the Qatari Government which was signed on 8 May 2011.

[Business Environment]

11. Towards further improvement of the business environment between the two countries, both sides:
    1. (1) expressed their willingness to vitalize discussions on how to facilitate mutual investment; and
    2. (2) confirmed the decision made at Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers Meeting (the 2nd Strategic Dialogue) held in New York on 23 September to resume the negotiations on the free trade agreement covering trade in goods and services between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, recognizing the economic and business relations between Japan and Qatar, as well as between Japan and the GCC states as a whole.
    3. (3) The Qatari side welcomed Japan's consideration to support the inclusion of goods that move via fixed infrastructure such as pipelines and electricity grids to the Freedom of Transit Article in the trade facilitation negotiations at the WTO.
12. Both sides stressed the firm intention to create better business environment for the two countries, and the importance of encouraging the private sector to participate in joint research and development. In this context, the Qatari side welcomed the participation of Japanese companies in the Qatar Science and Technology Park, and showed its support for their activities.
13. Both sides welcomed the progress of cooperation between Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) and Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) through the exchange letter to share information.

[Infrastructure]

14. Both sides expressed their expectation to expand cooperation in infrastructure projects conducted by the private and public sectors of both countries. The Qatari side welcomed the construction of the New Doha International Airport by Japanese companies and expected its further participation in Qatar's infrastructure.
15. The Japanese side expressed its congratulations on Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and expressed its readiness to cooperate in preparation for the event, including the construction of infrastructure such as stadium, accommodation facilities, and transportation systems, including Doha West Bay Automated People Mover.
16. The Japanese side expressed its intention to hold a seminar on potential infrastructure projects such as stadium, accommodation facilities and transportation systems. The Qatari side welcomed Japan's initiative on such matters. Both sides expressed their expectation to expand cooperation in both the private and public sectors projects in the area of infrastructure construction.
17. The Qatari side expressed their expectation for Japanese companies to participate in Qatari desalination projects with the most advanced technology in order to respond to increasing demand for water. The Japanese side expressed its intention to cooperate with the Qatar National Food Program and to submit its proposal on desalination plants for irrigated agriculture utilizing Japan's advanced technologies. The Japanese side explained that Japanese companies are interested in participating in Qatar Electric Water Company's desalination projects which are currently open to contract.
18. The Qatari side welcomed Japan's initiative to hold a seminar on water and wastewater management technology which could contribute to solving water related challenges that Qatar faces, and expressed their expectation that it will lead to projects by the private and public sectors of both countries.

[Other Issues]

19. Both sides shared the view that the education and the development of human resources are indispensable for the national development and confirmed their intention to promote cooperation in the field of education.
20. The Qatari side invited Japanese universities interested in participating in the 3rd Qatar International College Fair to be held in Doha from November 1 to 3, 2011. The Japanese side expressed its readiness to enhance the participation of Japanese universities.
21. Both sides confirmed their intention to expand their cooperation to cover the information communication technology.
22. Both sides noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in cultural exchanges between the two countries and stressed the need to explore further expansion of bilateral cultural cooperation in areas such as art and heritage exhibitions, museums and promotion of learning of Japanese language by Qatari nationals.
23. The Qatari side stated that it would like to expand the aviation relationship between the two countries, and the Japanese side took note of it.
24. Both sides reaffirmed the significant role of this Committee to further deepen bilateral economic relations and the importance of continuing discussions on an annual basis with interim review and follow-up of progress achieved in implementing the Committee's Statement. Both sides decided to convene the 7th meeting of the Committee next year.
    

• Koichiro Gemba
  Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
• Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
  Deputy Premier of the State of Qatar,
  Chief of the Amiri Diwan
• Yukio Edano
  Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan