Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, according to Arab News.
Iwaya noted that the GCC member states are not only important partners for Japan’s energy security but also play an increasingly significant role in maintaining peace and stability amid the current turbulent regional and international situation.
Meanwhile, Albudaiwi said that the relationship between Japan and the GCC countries are “of strategic importance,” and that the GCC also hopes to further strengthen such ties.
During the meeting, both officials welcomed the first round of negotiations on the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement, which resumed in December 2024.
Furthermore, Iwaya and Albudaiwi agreed to collaborate in a vast array of fields such as politics and security, trade and investment.
These agreements align with the Japan-GCC Action Plan adopted during the first Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in September 2023.
Apart from this, they delved into the latest issues and developments in the Middle East and East Asia, including Gaza, Syria, Iran, the Red Sea, and East Asia.
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