Japan-United Arab Emirates Relations
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi and H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology,
Special Envoy for Japan, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Meeting
March 20, 2022
On March 20, commencing at 11:30 a.m. (local time; on March 20, 16:30 JST) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy to Japan, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The overview is of as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi congratulated on the success of Expo 2022 Dubai and stated that he would like to work closely with Minister Jaber to further strengthen bilateral relations. In response, Minister Jaber expressed his gratitude for Japan’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, and stated that he would like to continue to cooperate with Minister Hayashi in order to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in multiple layers.
- Minister Hayashi stated his gratitude for the stable supply of oil from the UAE and participation of Japanese companies in the projects of crude oil development, and is concerned about the rise in crude oil prices due to the current situation in Ukraine, and as a major member of OPEC Plus, Minister Hayashi stated that he would like the UAE to contribute to the stabilization of the global crude oil market by further supplying crude oil and securing production capacity. In response, Minister Jaber stated that Japan and the UAE have a strong strategic partnership and expressed strong desire to support Japan including through the stabilization of the global crude oil market and the concrete efforts on decarbonization. The both ministers agreed to work closely on further expanding cooperative relationship between the two countries.
- Minister Hayashi welcomed the UAE’s leadership for decarbonization, such as holding COP28 in Abu Dhabi and the zero net emissions policy until 2050, and concrete efforts on hydrogen and ammonia with Japanese companies are progressing, and the both ministers agreed to work closely on efforts for decarbonization towards COP28, chaired by the UAE.
- Under the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI), Minister Hayashi said he is delighted to see that the bilateral relations have deepened in a wide range of fields such as renewable energy, infrastructure and space, in addition to the traditional energy field. The both ministers confirmed that they will seize the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the UAE this year, and that they will continue to work together to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in various fields toward the "next 50 years".