Japan-Kuwait Relations

May 29, 2025
Japanese
photo 1 (Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
photo 2 (Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
photo 3 (Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

On May 29, commencing at around 12:25 p.m for approximately 45 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with H.H. Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, who is visiting Japan. Following the meeting, both sides attended the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the two countries, followed by a working lunch held from 1:15 p.m. for approximately 40 minutes. The overview of the events is as follows.
In the MOC signing ceremony, the two governments signed an MOC on cooperation in the areas of electricity, water and renewable energy, and an MOC on diplomatic training cooperation. The two sides welcomed the signing of three other Memoranda between related organizations of the two countries in the areas of direct investment, diplomatic training, and international cooperation during the visit of the H.H. the Crown Prince to Japan.

  1. Opening Remarks
    1. At the outset, Prime Minister Ishiba stated that the bilateral relationship between the two countries has a long history dating back to before Kuwait's independence, and that the two countries have been friends who have helped each other through historical difficulties, such as the Gulf War and the Great East Japan Earthquake. Prime Minister Ishiba also stated that when he sent the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq as then-Director General of the Defense Agency, Kuwait provided the SDF with a operation base. He stated that the two countries place importance on areas such as rule of law, multirateralism and humanitarian assistance, and expressed his hopes to strengthen bilateral relations, by upgrading their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.
    2. In response, H.H. the Crown Prince stated that he is pleased that the two countries have concurred to upgrade their bilateral relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” referring to the historical relationship between the two countries and Japan's support during the Gulf War, and expressed his desire to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
  2. Bilateral Relations
    1. The two sides referred to the Kuwaiti pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and expressed their expectations for further promotion of people-to-people exchange between the two countries on the occasion of this Expo.
    2. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his appreciation for the stable supply of crude oil from Kuwait to Japan over the years, and expressed his hope that Kuwait would continue to take the lead in stabilizing the world crude oil market. In response, H.H. the Crown Prince stated that Kuwait is committed to the stable supply of crude oil to Japan and to the stabilization of the international crude oil market.
    3. Both sides confirmed that they will cooperate in the fields of clean energy and decarbonization, in addition to the electricity and desalination sectors where Japanese companies have been contributing over the years.
    4. Both sides confirmed that they will cooperate in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform.
    5. In light of Kuwait’s presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) this year, both sides confirmed further cooperation between Japan and theGCC, including the acceleration of the ongoing Japan-GCC EPA negotiations.
  3. Regional issues
    1. Both sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East region.
    2. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his respect for Kuwait playing an important role in the regional peace and stability through its active humanitarian assistance to Gaza and its role as the chair country of the GCC, and both sides confirmed their commitment to cooperate toward a “two-state solution” and a long-term peace and stability of the region.

(Reference) Memoranda signed during the visit of H.H. the Crown Prince to Japan

  1. Memorandum of Cooperation on Training of Diplomats between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait
  2. Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan and the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of the State of Kuwait
  3. Memorandum of Cooperation on Direct Investment between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Kuwait Foreign Direct Investment Agency
  4. Memorandum of Cooperation on International Cooperation between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Kuwait Arab Fund for Economic Development
  5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) and the Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute on Training of Diplomats.

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