During the visit of Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to UAE, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates agreed to collaborate on technology and climate change, as per his second stop in the region, which focused on securing energy supplies and promoting green technology.
In a statement, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said that, on Monday, Kishida met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, during which they agreed to an innovation partnership between Japan and UAE.
According to a statement on Monday, the partnership would include a new scheme to speed up energy security and a framework for the UAE to collaborate and invest in Japan’s on-chip and battery technology.
Moreover, the two leaders also adopted a joint statement on climate action, which said that both remain committed to accomplishing net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and accepted “the role of clean hydrogen and derivatives, including ammonia, in speeding up the energy transition.”
WAM added that the two leaders discussed a comprehensive strategic partnership between Japan and the UAE and signed many other agreements covering different sectors.
Officials also stated that Kishida is anticipated to attend a UAE – Japan business forum before traveling to significant gas producer Qatar on Tuesday.
Japan is developing greener and renewable energy technologies and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. Kishida will also try to facilitate Japanese know-how as energy-producing countries have promised to achieve a net zero transition, significantly ahead of COP 28—climate summit, which will be held in Dubai in November.
On Monday, the Saudi state news agency reported that Kishida and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, agreed to launch the ” Manar” initiative to help nations worldwide achieve their net zero transitions.
Besides, Tokyo and Riyadh are also set to start a new strategic dialogue at the foreign minister level.
The statement said, “Both leaders agree to energy exchanges, which cover politics, diplomacy, and security between the two countries.”
Hikariko Ono, press secretary for Japan’s foreign ministry, said that Japan and the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council will resume talks in 2024 on a free trade agreement.
On Monday, she stated, “We don’t have any target year to complete a negotiation, ” adding that previous trade talks with the GCC were suspended in 2009.
State oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has previously said that Japan imports around 25% of crude oil from the UAE, making ADNOC’s largest international importer of oil and gas products.
In a Sunday piece, Kishida wrote, “The secure energy supply from the UAE has supported Japan’s economic growth for many years.”
However, a senior official at Japan’s foreign ministry told reporters that this week Kishida planned to discuss energy markets during his trip while aiming to offer net zero transition for Japanese technologies.
