Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, was accorded a warm welcome by Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito as he arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday. Prince Salman’s four-day visit is expected to boost Saudi-Japanese ties.

His talks in Tokyo are to focus on strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic trade and investment fields. The visit follows an investment meet in Tokyo attended by more than 200 Saudi and Japanese businessmen and businesswomen.

Tarek Al-Qahtani, president of the Saudi-Japan Business Council, emphasized the need for greater contribution from the private sector to promote the business partnership between the two Asian giants.

Abdullah Al-Mobty, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers highlighted the growing investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia and urged Japanese businessmen and companies to make use of them.

Speaking at the business council meeting, Midori Matsushima, state minister of economy, trade and industry in Japan, said trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and her country exceeded $56 billion. “This reflects the strong partnership between the two countries.”

Abdullatif Al-Othman, governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, said Saudi Arabia receives 40 percent foreign direct investment that comes to the Arab region. “Total FDI received by the Kingdom has amounted to $199 billion,” the SAGIA chief said.

Speaking to Arab News, Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jiro Kodera emphasized the long-standing relations between the two countries. “It has been 58 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and the two countries have successfully maintained cordial relations during this period. Not only the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

King Abdullah but also other Saudi Royal Family members and Japanese Imperial Family members have visited each others’ countries and the two countries have been always very important partners in the field of trade and investment,” Kodera said.

Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Abe visited the Kingdom and met with Crown Prince Salman. Prime Minister Abe also had a friendly telephone conversation with King Abdullah and expressed his wish to maintain cordial relation with

Japan forever.

According to Kodera, Japan can contribute to Saudi Arabia in the field of energy policy, renewable energy, and energy-saving technology. Japan can also contribute in the field of water management in Saudi Arabia as Japan holds the highest technology on lowering water leakage rate. “This is what we call “Coexistence and Co-prosperity.”

During his visit, Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention on promoting new technology cooperation scheme which sends Japanese engineers to Saudi Arabia and also offers training sessions for Saudi technical personnel in Japan so that Saudis can increasingly encounter more occasions to learn Japanese skills.

The crown prince, who was on four-day official visit to Japan, was received at Haneda Airport by Prince Naruhito, Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority

Abdullatif Al-Othman, and Saudi Ambassador to Japan Abdul Aziz Turkistani.

Besides ambassadors of Arab countries and senior government officials, Japanese Ambassador Kodera and Saudi Defense Attache in Japan Brig. Abdul Rahman Al-Harbi; diplomats from the Saudi Embassy in Japan were also present at the airport.