April 7, 2006

THE FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ VISIT TO JAPAN. AGREEMENT ON THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES' CALL FOR REJECTING THE NOTION OF CONFLICT OF CIVILIZATIONS AND REPLACING IT BY PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF ALL CIVILIZATIONS. THE STATEMENT REITERATES THE CALL FOR A JUST AND COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KING ABDULLAH'S INITIATIVE FOR PEACE. THE STATEMENT CONDEMNS TERRORISM AND SUPPORTS A MIDDLE EAST FREE FROM WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS. THE CROWN PRINCE RECEIVES AN HONOURARY DOCTORATE FROM WASSIDA UNIVERSITY. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan issued a joint communiqué following talks between Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo. Crown Prince Sultan is on a state three-day visit to Japan responding to an invitation from Koizumi. Crown Prince Sultan was given a red-carpet welcome at the airport where he was received by Japan 's heir apparent Narohito and by Emperor Akihito at the Royal Palace, and held official round of talks with Koizumi. Following the talks, the two sides issued the following communique: They recalled previous visits by senior Saudi and Japanese visits, which boosted bilateral exchanges between the two countries. They said the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries considerably contributed to enhancing bilateral relations. They expressed determination to work together for further advancing the prosperous relations between them. Realizing that the Crown Prince 's current visit constitutes a historical chance to set up a strategic partnership between the two countries, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. They expressed mutual desire to enhance strategic dialogues at all levels, including the economic, cultural, environment, air transport and high-level political dialogues. The two sides noted with satisfaction the recent economic developments and commercial activities between the two countries. In this regard, the Japanese side congratulated Saudi Arabia on joining WTO. It also welcomed the opening of a commercial attach office in Tokyo . Referring to a $9. 8 billion joint petrochemical project between Sumitomo Chemical Co. and Saudi Aramco called Petro-Rabegh, Sharq petrochemical project and other giant projects, the two sides noted the considerable increase in joint investments between the two countries. They also lauded the achievements of the Saudi Japanese Business Council. To further boost economic relations, they agreed to First: activate discussions on ways to encourage joint investments and readiness of the two countries to resume negotiations to reach a bilateral agreement to encourage and protect investments and Second: welcome the launch of negotiations on concluding a free trade agreement between Japan and the gulf cooperation council. To prepare for the official talks, Japan and the GCC will hold preparatory negotiations in May, the statement said. Saudi Arabia's Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, also pledged in the statement that the oil-rich nation will continue to be a stable supplier. The two sides acknowledged the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation through intensive dialogue in the field of energy, based on joint and complementary relations between Saudi Arabia, the world's leading hydrocarbon exporter, and Japan , a leading energy-tech producer. They welcomed the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the opening of the International Energy Forum in Riyadh, underscoring the importance of the role of this forum in enhancing the transparency of the world oil market. The Saudi side appreciates the technical assistance Japan is providing for the Kingdom through the Japan Agency for International Cooperation JAICA. The two sides welcomed the successful Saudi Japanese High Institute for Vehicles as an ideal example of vocational training. The two sides confirmed that joint understanding and respect of different cultures and civilizations is the firm base for a globalization-oriented world. In this regard, the Japanese side supported the call by King Abdullah for rejecting the notion of conflict of civilizations and replacing it by peaceful co-existence of all civilizations. The two sides also underscored the importance of the Arab Japanese Dialogue Forum which already held three meetings, in Tokyo , Alexandria, Egypt, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia respectively. The fourth meeting is scheduled for Tokyo in may 2006. Other initiatives by Japan and Saudi Arabia, including King Saud University's program to teach Japanese language and the Tokyo-based Arab Islamic Institute Program to teach Arabic were praised. The two sides stated that fair and comprehensive solution to the Arab Israeli conflict will considerably contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Middle East and remove the main source of tension and threat for international peace and security. They expressed support for a viable independent Palestinian state. They emphasized the importance of King Abdullah's peace initiative adopted by the Arab summit in 2002 and the road map. They also confirmed the importance of recognizing the results of elections held in January 2006 as a step towards building an independent Palestinian state according to un security council resolutions no. 242 and 338. The two countries reiterated their support for the Iraqi people to achieve their aspirations for a better future, including Iraq's stability, territorial integrity, national unity, equality among its sects and social segments and right for rehabilitation. They agreed on the importance of comprehensive reforms of the united nations. They also agreed to closely coordinate to help the Iraqi reconstruction efforts, according to the statement. They appreciated the importance of bringing about peace and security in Afghanistan. The two sides urged all member countries of the Middle East to adopt joint non-proliferation nuclear weapons agreements and make the Middle East a mass-destruction free zone. They underscored the importance of supporting the diplomatic efforts aiming at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and work towards reaching a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear question. The two sides categorically rejected all kinds of terrorism and called for unity in the fight against the phenomenon and called on them to remain committed to enforce the 13 treaties and protocols pertinent to combating terrorism. The Japanese side lauded the Saudi initiatives in fighting terrorism, including the anti-terrorism international conference held in Riyadh in February 2005. Japan took part in the event, the statement noted. The two sides underlined the recommendations of the conference, including a proposal by King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to set up an international center for combating terrorism. The Crown Prince during his talks with Koizumi reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for Japan's aspiration to become a permanent member of the u. n. security council, the communique said. Japan appreciated this support, the statement added. Crown Prince Sultan expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Japanese side for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and accompanying delegation during the visit. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General received an honorary Ph.d. in law awarded to him by Japan Ese Wasida University in recognition of his good contributions to the fields of science, technology, humanitarian services, education, health and environment. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Upon arrival at the university's headquarters, the Crown Prince was received by the university's president, deans and academic staff members. In his speech, the Crown Prince expressed his pleasure to be at this old scientific edifice at an invitation of the university. Prince Sultan emphasized the Kingdom's great interest in education since its foundation. The Crown Prince noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has paid a great attention to cultural relations since they are the major frameworks for achieving rapprochement among peoples, mutual understanding among civilizations and coexisting cultures on our planet which contribute to achieving security and coexistence under the umbrella of peace, cooperation and mutual benefits. He expressed his belief that a balanced dialogue among cultures based on mutual respect contributes to preventing aspects of differences and disputes among nations. ''I am pleased to affirm the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz for condemning the idea of clashes among civilizations and for replacing it by an idea of peaceful coexistence among civilizations. The next stage of relations among nations should be based on a real dialogue in which every party respects the other,'' the Crown Prince said and added that this humanitarian call for peaceful coexistence emanates from the teachings of Islamic religion. The human society is in a pressing need of this call since wars, disputes and occupation of others' territories by force are spreading, the Crown Prince pointed out and called on the world community to intensify efforts to strengthen peaceful coexistence among civilizations and the respect of man and to renounce all forms of discrimination, violence, extremism and aggression. The Crown Prince also called for further cooperation in various research fields for the benefit of all mankind. He commended the remarkable position reached by Japan in various scientific and technological fields and he appreciated cooperation existing between scientific institutions in the two countries. For further enhancement of this fruitful cooperation, I am pleased to announce the issuance of the King's directives to the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom to include Japan among countries on which Saudi students dispatching program is applied, the Crown Prince said. He expressed his confidence that the expansion of scientific cooperation between the two countries in various fields will contribute to the development of bilateral relations. The Crown Prince expressed his thanks for the kind initiative of awarding him the honorary Ph.d. and hoped that this occasion would contribute to building a new era within the framework of cultural and scientific relations between the two friendly countries. In his speech, the University's President Katschiko Shirai said that the university is proud of awarding the honorary Ph.d. in law to the Crown Prince who is known at the international level and has got a number of international prizes in recognition of his good contributions to various fields in the world. The awarding ceremony was attended by Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud: Prince Dr. Mishaal Bin Abdullah Bin Musaed, Supervisor of Studies at the office of Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General : Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation: Prince Ambassador Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Khalid, Director General of Information and Studies Center at the Foreign Ministry: Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Qusaibi, Minister of Economy and Planning: Dr. Musaed Bin Mohammed Al-Eiban, Minister of State and Cabinet's Member: Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani, Minister of state for Foreign Affairs: Mohammed Bin Salim Al-Mari, Crown Prince 's Special Secretary and Saudi Ambassador to Japan Faisal Bin Hassan Ahmed Tarrad. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General graced a luncheon held in his honour and the accompanying delegation by Japanese economic organizations including Japan Federation of Economic Bodies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan Association for Foreign Trade, Japanese-Saudi Friendship Association and the Japanese Businessmen Association. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Addressing the attendance, Crown Prince Sultan conveyed to them the greetings of the Kingdom's government and people, recalling his first visit to Japan in 1960. He noted that the two countries have recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between them. The Crown Prince indicated that relations between the two countries have witnessed increasing growth and development in various fields through the exchange of visits at all levels. 'thanks to the leaderships of the two countries that these relations have witnessed important development of cooperation for their mutual interests stemming from the two countries' positions at the regional and international arenas. All Muslim worshippers direct themselves towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In accordance with the teachings of the Muslim religion, the Kingdom always seeks to combat terrorism and to strengthen world peace and stability since this is the only way for coexistence among nations and peoples,'' Crown Prince Sultan said. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the major source of oil does not aim at achieving comprehensive development in the Kingdom only, but its fixed oil policy fundamentals seek to support the world economic growth through the stability of oil market, he said. As for Japan, it has become one of the most important countries in the world and the second largest power, the Crown Prince said and added that these achievements of the two countries have made them deserve the respect and appreciation of all countries and necessitate them to shoulder greater responsibility at the regional and international level. The Crown Prince noted that Japan is the Kingdom's second trade partner, adding that bilateral relations have further advanced after the historic visit paid by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to Japan in 1998. The Kingdom's decision to inaugurate a Saudi commercial attaché's office in Tokyo came within its keenness on this strategic cooperation and in appreciation of the distinguished commercial relations with Japan , Prince Sultan indicated. ''We hope that economic cooperation will further develop in various fields. The two countries proved their ability to enter into great and vital projects for their interests. The joint projects included oil and petrochemical industries,' the Crown Prince said. The Prince stressed that the Kingdom will exert all efforts to provide all appropriate facilities for further setting up of joint investment projects for the interest of the two countries and their friendly peoples. In his speech, Chairman of Japan Businessmen Association Kakotaro Kitashiro stressed that the Crown Prince's visit and meetings with Japanese officials will further strengthen and deepen bilateral relations. He highlighted the Kingdom's religious, cultural and historical role under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in the Arab and Muslim world and its contribution to stability and peace in the world.