Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Japan’s ruling General Council Chairman Toshihiro Nikaio, who is also President of Japanese Parliamentary Association for Friendship with Qatar, in Tokyo yesterday.
Tokyo: Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani yesterday began a two-day official working visit to Japan as part of an Asian tour that will include several countries.
He held talks with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on ways to strengthen and develop relations of friendship and cooperation and exert efforts to realise the vision of leaderships of both countries to build a comprehensive strategic partnership between them.
The Qatari side welcomed Japan’s decision to grant multiple entry visas (valid for three years) to holders of Qatari passports, starting from today, as a big step that contributes to the promotion of exchange and interaction between both peoples. Both sides welcomed completion of procedures in both countries to enforce exemption of visa arrangements for the holders of Qatari diplomatic and special passports to Japan and the holders of Japanese diplomatic and official passports to Qatar soon.
The Japanese side praised Qatar’s role as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas and as a regional actor in stability in the Middle East. Japan also expressed desire to strengthen and develop relations in the political, security, economic and cultural fields. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen political and security dialogue, enhance economic and investment ties, boost cooperation and coordination in the field of education and the latest developments in the Middle East and East Asia.
Sheikh Mohammed also met Japan’s ruling General Council Chairman Toshihiro Nikaio, who is also President of Japanese Parliamentary Association for Friendship with Qatar. The meeting, attended by several parliamentarians and politicians, discussed relations and means of promoting friendship and activating cooperation in all fields.
Meanwhile, the Qatar-Japan Friendship Association hosted a reception in honour of Sheikh Mohammed and his delegation at Imperial Hotel. Some 52 businessmen and chairmen of Japanese firms operating in Qatar were present.
Sheikh Mohammed also attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Friendship Fund and Onagawa town. QFF will donate $10m to support a school project that integrates elementary and junior high stages as part of QFF’s projects to support relief efforts in the areas affected by the 2011 east Japan earthquake. Qatar’s Ambassador to Japan Youssef Mohammed Bilal and Onagawa Mayor Suda Yoshiaki signed the MoU.
