After 70 years as partners, Saudi Arabia and Japan set for a quantum leap in relations

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan enjoy a formal relationship and friendship that is almost 70 years old. A synergy of common interests and shared values has forged an interdependence between the two countries in many significant areas, including energy and energy security, trade and investment, and increasingly in their joint commitment to building an ecosystem for renewable energy and the environmentally friendly solutions of tomorrow that can successfully balance economic growth with economic sustainability.

Beyond economics, the Kingdom and Japan are strongly aligned in global views that affirm peace and prosperity. Both countries believe in the need for strong-functioning multilateral institutions that can handle complex human challenges and dilemmas while providing peaceful means for the resolution of conflict to avoid war and destruction.

They believe in the values of wisdom, balance and consideration, rather than extremes and inflammation, as the rightful language for international diplomacy and negotiation. With such deep alignment of their temperaments and visions for how a healthy world should operate, the nations are global voices of reason and this underpins their privileged and special relationship.

Culturally, each country has a proud and long spiritual tradition steeped in civility and their contributions to human knowledge and expression in the humanities and arts, poetry and storytelling, science and philosophy.

Both countries embrace the modern while seeking to blend the past, present and future in a seamless process of progress that continues to reaffirm their elegant presence and significance. In so doing, they are uniquely positioned to reach out to each other through an ongoing platform built on mutual deep respect and appreciation, as they strive to affirm such values to benefit universal bridge-building and human cooperation and understanding.

Both countries embrace the modern while seeking to blend the past, present and future in a seamless process of progress that continues to reaffirm their elegant presence and significance

Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr

It is in such deep dimensions of culture and civilization that I see yet another important dimension for the future of collaboration between the Kingdom and Japan, the time for which has come; a global presence through which countries such as the Kingdom and Japan can join hands with other nations to stress the importance of respect for universal values while also celebrating culture-specific values and somehow finding the will and the ways to balance both.

Moving forward, the nations can also work together in efforts to achieve global peace and prosperity, and to build the systems, ecosystems, value-adding chains and supply chains that can thrive while delivering quality and reliability to the world.

It is through the practice and promotion of common pragmatic values such as reliability and quality that the countries can best excel in their joint efforts. A case in point is the ways in which the Kingdom and Japan are working together, as partners, to address the global challenge of supplying sustainable clean energy to the world at affordable prices to promote progress and prosperity for all, including developing nations.

A hallmark of the partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan is evident in the delivery of consistently reliable, high-quality energy solutions that are beneficial both to the economy and security.

The essence of the pragmatism underpinning their partnership is based on realistic goals and actions based on science and engineering principals, rather than fancy words or ideologies that fail to deliver.

When it comes to their partnership in the area of energy and energy security, solutions are always anchored by a portfolio of options that range from the traditional to the green, while slowly but surely shifting the balance in favor of the green while simultaneously building production capabilities and the supply chains that can deliver excellence to the world.

From the sourcing of the minerals and materials required, to the development of new means of production, to the building of new ways to deliver energy, both countries intend to work together to help build a better tomorrow for all.

Because both the Kingdom and Japan recognize that sustainable economics, good governance and the quality of life of their citizens are, and must be, intertwined, they are in the prefect position to affirm the importance of such an approach and values in global affairs.

A common lesson to be learned from the legends and history of both countries is that “the paths of prosperous commerce and sustainable peace are one and the same.” Such are the ways of the old and the wise in both countries, and such are the roots of the combined philosophy that the Kingdom and Japan can contribute to the world.

• Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr is ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan.