Japan-Saudi Arabia Relations
Courtesy Call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs KUNIMITSU by H.E. Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
July 28, 2026
On July 28, Dr. KUNIMITSU Ayano, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call by H.E. Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, State Minister KUNIMITSU welcomed Vice Minister El-Khereiji on the occasion of his visit to Japan. She also once again expressed her sympathy for the human and material damage sustained in Saudi Arabia amid the recent situation involving Iran.
- State Minister KUNIMITSU noted that cooperation between Japan and Saudi Arabia has been expanding beyond the traditional energy sector to encompass a wide range of fields, including next-generation energy development, critical minerals, space, healthcare, entertainment, and academic and research cooperation, expressing her hope to further strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia through frameworks such as the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) and the Japan–Saudi Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue. State Minister KUNIMITSU also expressed her appreciation for Saudi Arabia's continued efforts to serve as a cornerstone of regional stability and to ensure a stable supply of energy to international markets, stating that Japan will continue to make every possible diplomatic effort to promote peace and stability in the region.
- In response, Vice Minister El-Khereiji outlined ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. He also explained that Saudi Arabia has been working with other countries to pursue a diplomatic solution through mediation efforts. The two sides concurred that Japan and Saudi Arabia will continue to work closely together to promote regional peace and stability.