Japan-Qatar Relations
Japan-Qatar Banquet at the Prime Minister’s residence

the banquet hosted by the Prime Minister
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

delivering an address at
the banquet hosted by the Prime Minister
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

the banquet hosted by the Prime Minister
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On January 29, commencing at 6:45 p.m. for approximately 70 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a dinner with H. H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar during his official working visit to Japan, following their summit meeting as well as their attendance at the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Dialogue and the memorandum of cooperation. The overview is as follows.
1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe wholeheartedly welcomed H.H. Sheikh Tamim’s first visit to Japan in four years again. He also stated that currently the teams from Japan and Qatar are competing in the AFC Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates and that he hoped the Qatari team would compete with the Japanese team in the final. He also stated that next year the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games would be held in Japan, that 2021 would be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Qatar, and that the FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar in 2022, and that together with the citizens of both countries deepening their friendly relations through culture and sports, he would like to further deepen richer, thicker relations that are not limited to energy.
2. H.H. Sheikh Tamim stated his gratitude for the warm welcome, stated that at the earlier summit meeting it was agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, that Japan is Qatar’s top trade partner and that he would like to further strengthen this strategic connection. He also stated his congratulations for the Japanese team’s advancement to the final at the AFC Asia Cup, and said that he looked forward to the team competing with Japan in the final.
3. The dinner was held in a very harmonious atmosphere.