The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Japan on Monday signed 23 agreements and memoranda of understanding to enhance their bilateral trade and investment.
This came during Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida’s visit to the Gulf nation on Monday.
Kishida met with UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where both leaders underscored the strength of relations between the two countries, the UAE state news agency, WAM, reported.
The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international developments and underlined the importance of supporting peace and stability through building bridges of cooperation and dialogue, WAM said.
The Japanese Premier started a Gulf tour on Sunday, with his first stop in Saudi Arabia. He is also scheduled to visit Qatar after the UAE.
Japan is considered one of the most important 10 trade partners to the UAE, while the Gulf nation is Japan’s largest Arab trade partner.
While a couple of deals were exchanged at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan in front of the two leaders, as many as 23 agreements and MoUs were inked at the UAE-Japan Business Forum involving government entities and companies.
“Our bilateral relationship has made great strides, including in the areas of startups and space,” Kishida said during the forum.
The MoUs inked at Qasr Al Watan include, between the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, related to the area of agriculture and fisheries; between the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, related to the field of tourism; in the field of education between the UAE Ministry of Education and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; between the UAE Space Agency and the Japanese Cabinet Office; the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, related to space activities for peaceful purposes. There was a joint declaration of intent between the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, related to the establishment of an Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA). Also, a Japan-UAE Leaders’ joint statement on climate action.
Kishida noted that several measures have been taken last year and earlier this year for ease of obtaining visas to travel to Japan, and more services announced by Etihad Airways to Osaka, will boost air traffic between the two countries.
