By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Qatar and Japan yesterday agreed to hold a second security dialogue soon to exchange views on their security policies and defence information, according to a senior official.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his delegation on an official visit to Qatar separately met Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. They discussed cooperation, ways of enhancing it and regional and international issues.
“In terms of further advancing bilateral relationships and comprehensive partnership, both sides (Qatar and Japan) agreed to coordinate to hold a second security dialogue soon,” Koichi Mizushima, official spokesperson for Kishida’s visit, told a press conference.
“Since we had such first dialogue last June (2014), we would like to have the second one, and both governments are going to coordinate on the meeting,” said Mizushima, also Deputy Director-General, Press and Public Diplomacy at Japan’s foreign ministry.
On June 19 last year, the First Japan-Qatar Security Dialogue was held in Tokyo and both sides exchanged views on issues, including the situation in East Asia, the Gulf and the Middle East, and security policies of both countries.
Kishida and his delegation discussed with Qatari authorities expansion of relations beyond economic ties, said Mizushima.
“The visit is very short but very dense. Relations between Qatar and Japan have been very dense and the visit aims to further advance them,” he added.
Japan is also looking forward to involving its companies into infrastructure development projects in Qatar. “Many Japanese firms have been contributing to the Qatari economy, especially looking at 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said Mizushima.
Kishida, who arrived here from a visit to Iran, also held discussions on Syria, Iran and radical elements, including ISIL.
“Qatar is also a country which plays a very active diplomatic role in issues in this region, so it is very important for us to exchange views on regional issues,” said Mizushima. Qatar is the largest importer and about 30 percent of its exports are to Japan. Qatar is also the second-largest supplier of LNG (18 percent) and third-largest oil (11 percent) supplier to Japan.
“Qatar is one of the important countries for Japan’s energy security. It is very important for the stability of the Japanese economy,” he added.
The Peninsula
