Saudi Arabia and Japan, a common vision and strategic relationship

Since taking the oath before King Salman as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Empire of Japan and assuming my position in 2009, I have reminisced fondly about my former colleagues. The ambassadors of the Kingdom since the embassy’s founding should be given credit for improving Saudi-Japanese relations since 1955.

I had to begin where my predecessors left off. This task was indeed not easy. I immediately initiated a plan to improve relations in important areas, including on the political, diplomatic, industrial, investment, commercial, educational, cultural, sports and arts fronts.

Under this plan, the embassy was able to raise the political consultation level to the undersecretaries of the two countries’ ministries of foreign affairs. Several meetings were held in this regard with Dr. Nizar Madani as the representative of the Kingdom, who always motivated me to grow these political relations and consultations in many areas — related to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Far East, covering countries including Japan and South Korea.

On the diplomatic level, it was agreed to hold an annual workshop between the Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the corresponding Japanese institute. Several dialogue sessions were held to highlight relevant issues and set a schedule for future actions that would enhance the Kingdom’s strategic role in the Middle East and the Arab and Islamic worlds. I found the Japanese always greatly cooperative, with a sincere love for our Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and Japan have always supported each other during voting for seats on international bodies, including at the UN. This has contributed to the deepening of the two nations’ strategic relationship. We have had the honor to support Japan in its bid to obtain a seat on the general secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency, led by Yukiya Amano.

History repeats itself

I became acutely aware of the Kingdom’s importance to Japan when I met with the country’s then prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe, who was recently assassinated by a Japanese national. Abe constantly told me about the strategic nature of Saudi-Japan relations. He was very happy that the Kingdom was the first country he visited after becoming prime minister. In fact, he visited the Kingdom when the historic Jeddah Declaration was issued. Under this agreement, Abe clarified Japan’s policy toward the Middle East, the GCC, and Arab countries.

The closing statement in Jeddah greatly impacted both the Japanese and Saudi sides. Now, history is repeating itself, as the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida again met with our supreme leaders in Jeddah. We are confident that the visit was successful and mutually beneficial.

I can confidently say that Japan’s former and current emperors, the symbols of their country, have had a close and warm relationship with King Salman. The former emperor had wanted to visit the Kingdom, yet his son who is the current emperor, Naruhito and Empress Masako — then as crown prince and crown princess — paid an official visit to the Kingdom for the first time in 1994, following their marriage in the same year. After that, Naruhito visited Saudi Arabia five times during his time as crown prince.

The current visit to the Kingdom

The visit of Kishida confirms the important role the Kingdom plays in the region and internationally. It is significant that he has chosen Saudi Arabia as his first stop in the Middle East, particularly at such a sensitive time, with the world facing various challenges including the Russia-Ukraine war, the attempts to ease Saudi-Iran relations, and the conflict in Sudan.

Given my previous experience with Japan, I firmly believe that this political consultation will have a significant role in developing and accelerating decisions that would benefit both nations.

Enhancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan

This visit will certainly ensure the transfer of technology and boost the economic and commercial interests of both countries, which is the main aim of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan. There is likely to be an agreement signed on developing rare mineral resources currently being mined in our precious homeland.

Those keeping track of the Kingdom’s mineral wealth know that significant sources of copper, iron and zinc are being mined. It is my view, having tracked Japanese industry for five decades, that this sector of the Kingdom is likely to attract interest from the Asian nation.

Japanese technical institutes

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to the Japanese government for operating and supervising the three technical institutes for cars and home appliances, which have helped to improve the technical skills of the Kingdom’s youth over the past 20 years. The Kingdom’s embassy in Japan has played a major role in ensuring the continued financial and technical support for these institutes. This assistance includes ensuring Japanese experts are seconded to Saudi Arabia on a yearly basis, after the Asian nation reduced the related allocated budget in the Japanese International Cooperation Organization.

Finally, I would like to send greetings to the Japanese prime minister, a dear friend of the Kingdom’s since he was minister of foreign affairs, and who has received me several times in his office and hometown in the south of the country.

• Dr. Abdulaziz Turkestani is a former Saudi ambassador to Japan.