Joint Statement
on Further Deepening of Bilateral Relations
between Japan and the State of Qatar

On October 15th, 2012, H.E. Mr. Yukio Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and H.E. Mr. Kazuya Shimba, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on the Japanese side; and H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Chief of the Administrative Control and Transparency on the Qatari side with the participation of H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saleh Abdulla Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, held the 7th meeting of the Japan-Qatar Joint Economic Committee in Tokyo.

Recalling the past Joint Statements, both sides discussed ways to further deepen bilateral relations and confirmed to promote the cooperation in the wide-ranging areas including the following:

1. Both sides reconfirmed the importance of oil and LNG to their economy, and determined to further promote bilateral cooperation in the energy field as well as multilateral dialogues between producers and consumers. In this context, both sides welcomed a constructive dialogue at the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference held in Tokyo in September 2012, and expressed their expectation to continue such kind of dialogue.
2. The Japanese side expressed its hope that Qatar would continue to be a reliable supplier of natural resources, especially that of LNG for the world at lower prices, and that Qatar, as the largest LNG producer, would remain to be a significant contributor to the global energy market. In this connection, the Qatari side reiterated its commitment to continuing and expanding its supply of oil and LNG to Japan at mutually acceptable terms and conditions in a stable and reliable manner. Both sides recognized the importance to maintain dialogue and deepen discussions on the developments in LNG supply and demand, and on their impact on the fundamentals and the future of the LNG market, in a manner that is beneficial to both producers and consumers and that contributes to bringing stability to the markets.
3. Both sides shared the view that market transparency, well-balanced supply and demand of energies are important to enhance the stability of the global market. Both sides confirmed that further enhancement of the Joint Organization Data Initiative (JODI) is needed to improve market transparency, which will contribute to stabilizing energy price. Both sides reiterated their commitment to supporting JODI on the Closing Statement of the 13th International Energy Forum held in Kuwait in March 2012.
4. Both sides expressed their willingness to further promote mutual investment. In this context, both sides welcomed the holding of the "Qatar Business Seminar" organized by Qatar's Ministry of Business and Trade in Tokyo in September 2012 for the further promotion of investment in Qatar. The importance of a bilateral investment agreement and a double taxation treaty was recognized by both sides. Both sides also expressed their intention to cooperate to resume the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement between Japan and the Cooperation Council for the Arab State of the Gulf (GCC) member states as soon as possible.
5. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with successful holding of the seminar on Infrastructure Projects and Water and Wastewater Management Technology in January 2012. Both sides confirmed their interest to expand cooperation in infrastructure development with regard to the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including construction of stadiums, Doha Metro and desalination projects. The Japanese side expressed its intention to hold a seminar on Qatar infrastructure projects in Tokyo and the Qatari side welcomed Japan's initiative on such matters.
6. Both sides welcomed the great success of the water related technology seminar held in April 2012 in Doha with many participants from the governments and the private sectors. Both sides welcomed the submission of the Expression of Interest by Japanese companies on the ground water desalination project for irrigation to Qatar Education City, following the pre-feasibility study supported by the Japanese government. Besides these projects, both sides expressed their expectation for upcoming water projects to further contribute to economic development in Qatar.
7. Both sides welcomed the successful completion of the pre-feasibility study for Qatar National Food Security Program and expressed their intentions to further cooperate and exchange knowledge in food security investment issues. The Qatari side introduced intentions expressed by Qatari investors to explore the possibility of forming joint venture to invest in the field of agriculture and food security, and the Japanese side took note of it.
8. Both sides expressed their intention to continue discussion regarding cooperation in the field of education and science research between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and the Supreme Education council of the State of Qatar. Both sides expressed their intention to exchange views on the possibility to encourage learning and to promote the use of the Japanese language in selected Qatari schools and educational institutions.
9. The Qatari side expressed its intention to learn from Japanese experience in applying the Total Quality Management (TQM) in standardization and metrology, and the Japanese side expressed its readiness to discuss further details of cooperation regarding the TQM.
10. Both sides welcomed expansion of the aviation relationship between the two countries as a result of the consultation between the aeronautical authorities of Qatar and Japan on the operation of non-stop passenger flight between Doha Airport and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) from the summer of 2013.
11. The Qatari side reconfirmed the implementation of reconstruction projects in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake decided by the "Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF)"as soon as possible, and the Japanese side highly appreciated such generous support from the Qatari side which illustrates the existing friendship between the two countries.
12. Both sides confirmed that COP18 is an important step towards a future framework applicable to all Parties. The Japanese side expressed its full cooperation with Qatar to achieve the successful outcomes at COP 18.
13. Both sides welcomed the successful outcome of the previous Japan-Arab Economic Fora and shared the view to continue to participate in such Forum, namely in the 3rd Japan-Arab Economic Forum to be held in December 2012 in Tokyo.
14. Both sides congratulated and expressed their satisfaction for successfully holding, throughout the year 2012, a number of commemorative events of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Qatar diplomatic relations in both Qatar and Japan, including QATAR WEEK "Ferjaan in Tokyo", which would contribute to the further enhancement of mutual understanding and trust between the two countries.

• Yukio Edano
  Minister of Economy, Trade
  and Industry of Japan
• Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
  Chief of the Administrative Control
  and Transparency Authority of the State of Qatar
• Kazuya Shimba
  Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister
  for Foreign Affairs of Japan