Joint Statement between Japan and the United Arab Emirates

At the invitation of President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) His Highness (HH) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Excellency (HE) Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, made an official visit to the UAE from April 29 to 30, 2007.

HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) received HE Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan and the accompanying delegation cordially, reflecting the deepness of the relation which connects the two countries. The two sides had an official meeting in which the bilateral relation has been discussed and the two sides have confirmed the importance of strengthening and developing their relation which serves for the common objectives and interests and which brings in the general benefit for the two countries and their people. Also, the two sides have reviewed the regional and international development which the common interests lie and issued the following joint statement with the objective that it will strengthen the relation between Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

1. Recognizing that the friendly relations between the two countries have been mutually beneficial, both sides expressed their firm determination to further advance their prosperous relations. Towards that end, both sides affirmed the great significance of the visit of HE Mr. Shinzo Abe to the UAE as it provides a historic opportunity to consolidate the outstanding bilateral relations on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Furthermore, the two sides decided to closely coordinate with each other to realize a visit by HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and one by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Japan at a time of mutual convenience, both of which will greatly contribute to promoting the Japan-UAE partnership.
2. Both sides shared the intention to further promote dialogues at all levels in a broad array of fields, such as politics, economy, culture, education, environment, investment, and technology.
3. The two sides, while expressing their wholehearted satisfactions with the recent development of economic and commercial activities between the two countries, confirmed that utmost efforts should be made in both government sector and private sector to further develop their economic relations in a comprehensive manner. In particular, both sides reaffirmed the geo-economic significance of the UAE - where exists the biggest community of Japanese businessmen in the Middle East -, who activate the economic relation to go beyond the geographical border, making the UAE as the economic hub in the entire Middle East.
4. The two sides underlined the importance of the progress of the negotiations for the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, stressing their determination for early conclusion of the negotiations. Furthermore, aiming at all-embracing development of the bilateral economic relations, both sides decided to launch ministerial Japan-UAE Joint Economic Committee based upon the attached Memorandum. Both sides shared the view that the Joint Economic Committee would play a core role in further promoting the Japan-UAE economic relations, particularly in investment, business environment and energy fields.
5. Both sides welcomed the fruitful outcomes brought about at the Japan-UAE Business Forum in April 2007 at Tokyo. Both sides also highlighted the great significance of the high-level Japanese private sector mission accompanied by HE Mr. Shinzo Abe this time as it contributes to further development of the Japan-UAE economic relations as a whole.
6. The two sides reiterated their common view that the stability of the world oil market is a cornerstone for the sound growth of the world economy. In this regard, both sides decided to further promote bilateral cooperation in the energy field, based upon mutually complementary relationship between the UAE, with its large hydrocarbon resources, and Japan, with its advanced energy-related technologies. Both sides recognized the fact that Japanese private sector's technologies and activities in the UAE have been playing important roles in development of the UAE economy, not only in the field of existing energy sources, but also in the renewable energy area. For instance, a Japanese research institute participates in Masdar Research Network, providing its experiences in solar energy. Also, Japan Oil Development Company (JODCO) and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) fund the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, whose first students graduated last year. Furthermore, both sides blessed the development of the relations between Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in financial cooperation. The two sides also noted the importance of enhancing their cooperation on industrial and infrastructure development of cities in the UAE. Both sides shared the view that further developing their cooperation in the oil sector, including successful extension of concessions that the UAE government has granted the Japanese oil companies in the coming years, would contribute to further strengthening Japan-UAE mutually complementary relations.
7. In a similar vein, both sides shared the view that the international community as a whole - not only industrial countries but also energy supplying countries - should advance a strategy to manage the current global warming trend. In this context, the Japanese side expressed its intention to promote its cooperation at both government and private levels to formulate appropriate provisions against the global warming. Bearing in mind significant co-benefits of the clean development mechanism (CDM) that contributes to combating the global warming as well as achieving sustainable developments in the UAE, both sides reaffirmed the importance of the roles of the private sectors for promoting CDM projects with hope to explore the maximum potential of CDM projects in the UAE.
8. The two sides shared the view that education is the essential foundation for nation building. The UAE side in this connection expressed its keen interests in concepts described in "Towards a Beautiful Country: My View for Japan" by HE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, wishing for Japan's further cooperation with the UAE in educational fields. Both sides at this juncture demonstrated their wholehearted satisfactions with the ongoing educational cooperation between the two countries, particularly the attendance of UAE children to Japanese School in Abu Dhabi. The UAE side, moreover, expressed its expectations for the expansion of Japanese cooperation in this field. The UAE side also expressed its readiness to advance Japan-UAE collaboration on education. The Japanese side expressed its intention to enhance its human capacity building cooperation programs.
9. Recognizing the significant progress of the Japan-the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation, the two sides expressed their determination to aim at reaching an agreement in principle as soon as possible. The leaders of both countries reaffirmed their strongest commitment to make every effort to achieve that goal on the FTA negotiations.
10. Both sides underlined the pivotal importance of stability of the Middle East for the entire world. The UAE side in this context expressed its expectations for Japan's broader and greater roles in promoting stability and achieving prosperity of the Middle East. The Japanese side expressed its willingness to work together with the UAE for peace and stability of the Middle East, thus to contribute to the prosperity of the region.
11. As for the Middle East peace process, the two sides reiterated that just and comprehensive solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict would be one of the most essential elements for the stability and prosperity of the Middle East. Both sides expressed their support for the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council's resolutions including 242 and 338, and the Arab Peace Initiative and also confirmed their continued support for the Palestinians. The UAE side expressed its appreciation for Japan's efforts in promoting the Middle East Peace Process, such as the concept of "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity," expecting it to play more active and greater roles for just and comprehensive solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Japanese side expressed its appreciation for the UAE's assistance to the dire humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.
12. Reaffirming the commitment of the two countries to help the Iraqi people in achieving their aspirations for better future, both sides decided to closely coordinate with each other to support achieving stability, maintaining territorial integrity and promoting its national unity and equality among all groups of the Iraqi people. Both sides, in particular, shared the view that national reconciliation would be fundamental to the stabilization of Iraq. The UAE side expressed its appreciation for Japan's significant contributions for reconstruction and stability of Iraq, including the holding of "Seminar on National Reconciliation of Iraq" in March 2007.
13. The two sides stressed the importance of urging all the states in the Middle East to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and making the Middle East a region free from all weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means in conformity with relevant internationally legitimate resolutions. The two sides placed a great emphasis upon the importance of a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, and urged Iran to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747 and suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities accordingly.
14. Both sides discussed the issue of the three islands and the Japanese side expressed support for the efforts of the UAE to solve the islands issue by peaceful means.
15. On the situation regarding the Korean Peninsula, the two sides concur that the agreement reached at the Six-Party Talks on 13 February 2007 should be expeditiously implemented by all Parties, especially by North Korea. Both sides expressed hope that progress will be made in the talks between Japan and North Korea on bilateral issues, including early resolution of the abduction issue.
16. Both sides reaffirmed the necessity of the reform of the United Nations and other international organization, especially the Security Council through the expansion of its membership and the improvement of its working methods, as early as possible.

Abu Dhabi, April 29, 2007