DOHA: Qatar and Japan share identical views on how to handle crises internationally. Both the countries have the ability to move swiftly to resolve any conflicts before they get out of hand, said Foreign Minister H E Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah.
Talking about the bilateral relations between Qatar and Japan he said they were strategic. In an interview to Qatar TV, Al Attiyah said that diplomatic relations with Japan began in 1972 and have never looked back since.
He said the meeting held between Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Emperor of Japan Akihito as well as his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw the leaders agree in their views regarding regional developments. Japan is one of the biggest importers of energy from Qatar, in addition to having strong ties in other investment and economic fields such as health and technology, reports QNA.
Responding to a question on how Qatar and Japan saw developments in the region, the foreign minister said that both had almost identical views on how to deal with foreign crises. Both the countries have the ability to move swiftly to resolve any conflicts before they get out of hand.
Al Attiyah, stressing the importance of renouncing violence in resolving crises, said Qatar worked diligently to reach a political resolution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.
He said both countries signed a host of agreements in the fields of health, technology, education and defence, among others.
Both countries also signed agreements to develop Metro railway and the main railway systems in Qatar.
Dr Al Attiyah said Qatar Friendship Fund to finance projects to help the Japanese people was established following directives of Emir
H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to help the people in the east of Japan after the tsunami in 2011.
The fund has completed 11 projects on Japan’s eastern coast, and four are in progress.
To a question on investment and economic cooperation, he said Qatar and Japan have many joint investment projects in Japan that are strategic in nature.
There are over 20 companies that are 100 percent owned by Japanese capital operating in Qatar today.
There are another 30 that are jointly owned by Japanese and Qatari capital.
On how to benefit from Japanese expertise to aid Qatar’s hosting of FIFA World Cup 2022, Dr Al Attiyah said Qatar looks beyond the World Cup and focuses on Qatar National Vision 2030.
On the Emir’s upcoming visit to Washington, he stressed that relations between the US and Qatar are strategic in nature. He highlighted Qatar’s strong ties with the US in all fields whether in education, defence, health and investment and added that the Emir’s visit will reflect the strength of bilateral relations.
The Peninsula
