On August 23rd, commencing at 1:00PM (local time, 7:00PM Japan time) for approximately 90 minutes, Mr. Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held “the First Japan-Qatar Strategic Dialogue” with H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, during his visit to Qatar.
At the outset, Minister Motegi expressed his willingness to further develop “the Comprehensive Partnership” between both countries by taking the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship, while praising the outstanding performance of Qatari athletes at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He also stated that Japanese companies have contributed to the development of Qatar and its infrastructure building, and requested continued support so that Japanese companies can smoothly operate in Qatar. Minister Motegi also wished for the success of the FIFA World Cup next year.
In response, Minister Mohammed welcomed Minister Motegi’s first visit to Qatar, and stated that he was pleased to hold” the First Japan-Qatar Strategic Dialogue”, which was agreed upon when His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim visited Japan in January 2019. Minister Mohammed congratulated the success of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and agreed on promoting exchange and cooperation in a wide range of fields beyond the energy field. Minister Motegi also introduced Japan’s efforts to achieve a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and stated that this vision will contribute to the development of the Middle East, and Minister Mohammed stated that the freedom of navigation and the free trade are also important for Qatar, and he expressed his appreciation for Japan’s leadership.
As Qatar has hosted the Afghanistan peace negotiations, the both sides thoroughly discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and future prospects, and confirmed that they would continue to cooperate.
The both sides also exchanged views on the situations in the Middle East including the Gulf situation, Middle East Peace Process and Iran, as well as the situation in East Asia, such as China and North Korea. Minister Motegi requested understanding and cooperation for the early resolution of the abductions issue, and gained support of Minister Mohammed.