Press Releases
The Second Ministerial Level Meeting of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI)
On April 15, commencing at around 18:30 p.m. for approximately an hour and 40 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held the Second Ministerial Level Meeting of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI) with H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, who is visiting Japan. The overview is as follows.
The Ministerial Level Meeting of the CSPI is a framework to discuss bilateral cooperation between Japan and the UAE, established based on the “Joint Declaration on the Implementation of the CSPI” signed between Japan and the UAE in September 2022, and is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs from the Japanese side and the Special Envoy to Japan from the UAE side.
- At the outset, Minister Iwaya welcomed the progress of cooperation between the two countries in wide range of fields including politics, economics, energy sector including renewable energy, space, advanced technology, and education. He expressed his hope that the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which takes over the baton from the UAE, will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. In response, Minister Jaber concurred with Minister Iwaya’s remarks and expressed his strong desire to further enhance relations with Japan.
- The two ministers confirmed the outcomes of the senior officials’ meetings of the five subcommittees under the CSPI framework; 1) Political, Diplomatic and International Cooperation Subcommittee; 2) Economic, Trade, Energy and Industry Subcommittee; 3) Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee; 4) Education, Science, Technology and Culture Subcommittee; and 5) Defense and Security Subcommittee. The two ministers concurred to continue enhancing cooperation between the two countries, utilizing the CSPI framework as a forum for consultation on cooperation between the two countries.
- With regard to the Japan-UAE Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) currently under negotiation, both ministers affirmed the importance of continuing to work closely to realize an ambitious and balanced EPA, touching upon the progress made during the two rounds of negotiations held so far.
- The two ministers also exchanged views on the regional and international situation, including the situation in the Middle East and East Asia, and concurred to continue close cooperation.