Japan’s PM to visit Middle East next week to talk energy

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TOKYO

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to discuss Japanese technologies for energy markets during his trip to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar later this month. A senior Japanese official said Japan which faces energy shortage relies on Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) with Saudi Arabia and UAE among key OPEC members, for the most of its oil, while part of its liquefied natural gas needs is covered by Qatar.

Kishida will visit Middle East on July 16-19 to build a personal relationship of trust with the leaders responsible for each country for years to come, a senior official at Japan’s foreign ministry said.

The official, who declined to be named, told reporters, “It is very important to exchange views with these countries on stabilising the energy market.”

Japan is actively developing greener and renewable energy technologies as it wants to be carbon neutral by 2050, and Kishida will also try to promote Japanese technology as energy-producing countries also have ambitious green targets.