TOKYO: Japan and Saudi Arabia were engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions wherein the focus was on deepening bilateral ties and addressing regional security concerns, the Foreign Ministry said.
On July 27, Hiroyuki Namazu, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, met with Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.
Under the Japan–Saudi Strategic Partnership, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation across a wide range of sectors that include political affairs, security, energy, advanced technologies, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as next-generation energy development, critical minerals, space, healthcare, entertainment, and academic and research cooperation.
The discussions also covered regional and international issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, specifically the Red Sea.
Both nations emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East, the importance of ensuring free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and the recent tensions involving Iran, which caused human and material damage in Saudi Arabia.
