Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended a banquet hosted by with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, in honour of H H the Amir.
Tokyo: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a session of official talks with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on yesterday evening.
The Japanese Prime Minister welcomed H H the Amir and the accompanying delegation, recalling H H the Amir’s last visit to Japan four years ago and the subsequent meetings. He said Japan attaches the highest level of confidence in Qatar as a gas exporting country.
The Japanese Prime Minister pointed out that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be marked in 2021. He also said that the State of Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup, looking forward to further communication to strengthen bilateral relations.
The Japanese Prime Minister also expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to H H the Amir for Qatar’s efforts to help release the Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who was arrested in Syria.
H H the Amir expressed his happiness at his second visit to Japan, at his meeting with the Prime Minister, and at further development of relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of this visit in enhancing progress and development to include areas other than the existing fields of energy and cooperation.
Regarding the Japanese Premier’s reference to the 2022 World Cup Qatar, H H the Amir said that Japan will also host the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, expressing his confidence that it will be a successful and perfect tournament, and looking forward to the cooperation of the concerned committees to benefit from the experience of Japanese friends in organising such events.
The session of official talks focused on aspects of strengthening bilateral relations to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two friendly countries.
The two sides discussed the latest regional and international developments, especially the situation in the region in both Syria and Yemen, as well as the Gulf crisis. The two sides also agreed on the importance of dialogue and political and peaceful solutions to different conflicts and crises.
The talk session was attended by Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying H H the Amir. On the Japanese side, it was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials.
H H the Amir was accorded an official reception upon arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office.
H H the Amir also met yesterday morning with Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono and the accompanying delegation at H H the Amir’s residence in Tokyo.
They reviewed bilateral relations and developments on the regional and international arenas. The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying H H the Amir.
H H the Amir attended a dinner banquet hosted by the Prime Minister in honour of H H the Amir and the accompanying delegation.
At the beginning of the event, the Prime Minister welcomed H H the Amir and the accompanying delegation, stressing that the day’s talks were fruitful, while calling for deepening the friendly relations between the two friendly peoples in various fields, especially in view of the presence of politicians, economy and cultural figures from both countries.
In his welcoming speech, the Japanese Prime Minister also praised the efforts of H H the Amir in supporting and enhancing relations between the two countries, wishing him health and happiness and wishing relations between the two countries further development and progress.
Concluding his speech, Abe said he was pleased with Japan’s victory in their match against Iran in the Asian Cup, hoping that Qatar national team will win today’s match to meet Japan in the final of the tournament.
For his part, H H the Amir thanked the Japanese Prime Minister for his kind words and feelings, adding that the talks were constructive and positive.
His Highness hoped that the two countries would expand areas of cooperation to include, besides energy, areas such as tourism and health for the benefit of both countries and peoples, appreciating the strategic partnership with Japan and describing it as “the first partner”, looking forward to strengthening and developing such partnership.
His Highness also pointed out that the two sides also agreed to cooperate in the field of sports and in organizing international sporting events such as the Tokyo 2020 and the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
In this regard, His Highness congratulated the Prime Minister and the Japanese people on the victory of the Japanese team and their outstanding performance, while also praising the Qatari team who showed a very good level of performance and are prepared for the future, adding that it is gratifying that the majority of the players are Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence’s graduates, wishing them success in their match today and to meet the Japanese team in the final.
The banquet was attended by a number of senior officials, politicians, economists, cultural figures, businessmen and heads of the boards of major Japanese companies and institutions, as well as a number of businessmen and heads of companies from Qatar.
