April 14, 2006

IN A THREE NATIONS TOUR TO JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND PAKISTAN: CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ REVIEWS WITH THE JAPANESE EMPEROR, PRIME MINISTER AND OFFICIALS BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ: WE VALUE OUR FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO DEEPEN THEM. ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PROGRESS, DEVELOPMENT, TOLERANCE AND RESPECT. COMPREHENSIVE MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND JAPANESE AND MUSLIM ASSOCIATIONS. Japan's Emperor Akihito received Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General. The Emperor and the Crown Prince held a meeting attended by the delegations of the two countries. At the outset of the meeting, the Japanese Emperor welcomed Crown Prince Sultan, wishing the Crown Prince and his accompanying delegation a good stay in Japan. Addressing the Crown Prince, the Emperor said, ''you have had a remarkable stand on supporting bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and your current visit emphasizes deep relations and will further enhance and develop these relations.'' On his part, Crown Prince Sultan expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Japanese Emperor for a warm welcome and generous hospitality. The Crown Prince also conveyed to the Emperor the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and his interest in enhancing relations between the two countries. ''We are proud of friendship and cooperation with Japan which plays an important role in the region and the world. we are keen on deepening cooperation with Japan and on reaching a joint perspective on the issues of the middle east and international issues of mutual interest,'' Crown Prince Sultan said. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks. Then Crown Prince Sultan attended a luncheon held in his honour by the Japanese Emperor. The reception and the banquet were 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 Defence and Aviation and Inspector General: Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation: 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 and Saudi Ambassador to Japan Faisal Bin Hassan Tarrad. On the Japanese side, it was attended by Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito: Prince Ama Saito, Japanese Emperor's brother: Foreign Minister Taro Aso and a number of officials. Japan's Emperor Akihito has hailed the deep-rooted and distinguished Saudi-Japanese relations, which date back to 1938. 'The kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan are always looking for laying the right brick at the proper place on the bridge of the economic and cultural partnership for the 21st century', he said in a statement published by Al-Yaum Arabic newspaper on the occasion of the current visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, to Japan. 'bonds of relationship between the Saudi Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family have been strengthened through exchanging visits by officials of the two friendly countries', he added. The Emperor recalled the important visit paid by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz (when he was the Crown Prince) to Japan in 1998 and his signing the agenda of the Saudi-Japanese cooperation along with Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi. He noted that the visit of late King Faisal Ibn Abdul Aziz to Japan in 1971 as well as the visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz to Japan (when he was the Minister of Communications) in 1960, had positively contributed to cementing friendship between the two countries. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, held a round of talks at the headquarters of Japan's Cabinet. Upon arrival at the venue, memorial photos were taken. Then the meeting was attended by the delegations of the two countries. At the outset of the meeting, the Japanese Prime Minister handed over a memorial gift to Crown Prince Sultan as well as memorial photographs taken during Prince Sultan's first visit to Japan in 1960. Japan's Prime Minister then welcomed Crown Prince Sultan, wishing him and his accompanying delegation a good stay in Japan. Koizumi underscored the importance of Crown Prince Sultan's visit to Japan, saying it would further boost the bilateral relations between the two countries and provide a chance to exchange view points on issues of mutual concern. On his part, the Crown Prince expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Japanese Prime Minister for a warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. Addressing the Japanese Premier, Crown Prince Sultan said ' I am pleased to refer to the past years which witnessed a lot of cooperation in all felids and also place my hope of seeing more in the years ahead'. We do appreciate the current state of relations between the two countries and the role Japan is playing in the region and the world. Then the two sides discussed the latest developments at the regional and international arenas, led by the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq in addition to aspects of cooperation between the two countries in all fields and ways of enhancing them in the benefit of the two countries and their peoples. Following the meeting, a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the two countries was signed. Crown Prince Sultan and Japan's Prime Minister attended the signing ceremony. Dr. Nizar Bin Obeid Madani, Minister of state for Foreign Affairs signed for the Saudi side while Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso signed for his country. Then Crown Prince Sultan graced a dinner party held in his honour by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The talks and the banquet were 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 Defence and Aviation and Inspector General: Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation: 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 and Saudi Ambassador to Japan Faisal Bin Hasan Tarrad. On the Japanese side, it was attended by Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso and a number of officials. The government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated $500,000 to the Saudi Japanese Friendship Association. The announcement came during a dinner party held by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in honour of visiting Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Addressing the party attendees, President of the Association Kichi Konaga briefed the Crown Prince and Japan's Premier on the activities of the association, lauding the opening of Crown Prince Sultan of the association in 1960 during his last visit to the Asian Far Eastern country. He expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Saudi government for this gesture which, he said, will further support the association's activities and enhance its efforts aiming at further deepening the cordial ties between the two countries and peoples. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received the chairman and members of the Japanese-Saudi friendship association. During the meeting, boosting relations between the two countries was discussed. The meeting was attended by a number of Princes, including Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Mohammed, Ministers and senior officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received the chairman and members of the Japanese Muslims association. During the meeting, the senior consultant of the group welcomed Crown Prince Sultan in Japan, wishing him good stay and confirming the high status accorded to the kingdom in Japan, particularly in the hearts of Japanese Muslims. The meeting was attended by a number of Princes, including Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Mohammed, Ministers and senior officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received the Saudi community in Japan, led by the personnel of the Arab Islamic institute, Saudi Armco, Sabic and Saudi students on scholarships in Japanese universities. At the outset of the meeting, Crown Prince Sultan praised the Saudi community in Japan, describing them as unofficial ambassadors of their people. He said Islam is a religion of progress, development and faith. In a generous gesture on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan offered Saudi students on private scholarships to receive government full-scale subsidies. The meeting was attended by a number of Princes, including Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Ministers and senior officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, had arrived in Tokyo on an official 3-day visit. Prince Sultan was welcomed by Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and other senior officials as well as Saudi Ambassador to Japan Faisal Bin Ahmad Tarrad. Prince Sultan is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, left the Kingdom for an official visit to Japan as part of a three-nation Asian tour, which will also take him to Singapore and Pakistan. The Crown Prince's Asian tour is in response to official invitations extended to him by the leaders of the three countries. He was seen off at king Khaled international airport by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation, a number of other Princes and senior officials. A royal court statement was issued stating that Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, will start a foreign trip, which will take him to Japan, Singapore and Pakistan. 'The tour aims at bolstering the relations between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the three Asian countries,' the statement added. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General received Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations in various fields and their enhancement particularly in education and technology. The audience, 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 Defence and Aviation and Inspector General: Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation: 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 Tarrad. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General received Yoshiro Muri, Japan's former Premier and Chairman of Saudi-Japanese parliamentary friendship committee. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and their enhancement in various fields. The audience, 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 Defence and Aviation and Inspector General: Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation: 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 Tarrad. It was also attended by a number of Japanese officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General received at his guest residence in Tokyo Saudi businessmen and editors-in-chief accompanying him in his current visit to Japan. Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito has hailed the strong Saudi-Japanese relations in various fields. In a statement on the occasion of the visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, to Japan, Naruhito said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a leadership which opts for a reasonable policy that understands the importance of the world situation, and accurately takes into account the view of the world towards the kingdom as an economic country that deals with others in an ideal manner. 'In addition to this, the kingdom is a big and strong homeland which owns great and important assets', he added. The director of Arab Islamic Institute, Dr.Mohammad Bin Hassan Al-Zeer has warmly welcomed the visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister , Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, to Japan. In a statement to SPA, Dr. Al-Zeer expressed his gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia for the services offered to Muslims in various spheres all over the world and for its efforts to project Islamic and Arab culture and civilization in addition to establishing communication and cooperation bridges with the entire world on the basis of peace and prosperity. Saudi Ambassador to Japan Faisal Bin Hassan Tarrad has hailed the growing bilateral ties in all spheres between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan. He said that these relations have developed at the diplomatic and economic levels throughout the last fifty years, saying that Japan depends on Saudi Arabia to provide it with one third of its oil needs annually whereas Japan is the eighth commercial partner for Saudi Arabia . In a statement to SPA, Tarrad said that the visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General to Japan, is his first one as the Crown Prince. Prince Sultan's last visit to tokyo was in 1960. Tarrad highlighted the roles played by Saudi Arabia and Japan to enhance the pillars of peace among civilizations. He expressed optimism that the visit will launch a new and important era in the relations based on mutual respect, and will contribute to the stability, security and prosperity of the entire world in general and of the two countries' peoples in particular. The Executive Director of the Saudi-Japanese Higher Automobile Institute, Salim Al-Asmari has underscored the importance of the visit of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister , Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, to Japan and said it will broaden horizons of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Japan in all domains, notably in the field of technical training and transference of technology to the kingdom. He noted that the Jeddah-based institute constitute the first fruit of the existing cooperation between the two friendly countries. Al-Asmari pointed out that following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz (when he was the Crown Prince) to Japan in 1998, the two countries had agreed to establish a higher institute for the maintenance of the Japanese cars. The project of the institute is implemented on an area of about 72,000 square meter in Jeddah on the Makkah-Jeddah highway. Al-Asmari said the graduates of the institute work as technicians of maintenance at the workshops of the agents of the Japanese cars in the Kingdom. The Institute, which is supervised by highly qualified technicians in the field of car maintenance, includes the biggest library in the field of technology and maintenance of cars.