Kuwait and Japan eye stronger ties in energy, food trade, and diplomacy

Arab Times

09-08-2025

TOKYO, Aug 9: Kuwait and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including energy, food trade, healthcare, and regional security, during the fifth round of Policy Consultations between their foreign ministries, held Friday in Tokyo.
The talks were co-chaired by Kuwaiti Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, Ambassador Sameeh Hayat, and his Japanese counterpart, Assistant Foreign Minister and Director-General for Middle Eastern and African Affairs, Ambassador Toshihide Andō. The meeting brought together senior officials from both ministries, as confirmed by a statement from Japan's Foreign Ministry.
During the discussions, both sides acknowledged the longstanding partnership between Kuwait and Japan, which spans over six decades. They highlighted the importance of building upon the outcomes of the May summit between His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, which elevated bilateral relations to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Ambassador Hayat described the meeting atmosphere as friendly and constructive, reflecting the strength of the historic ties. He emphasized that discussions largely focused on implementing the strategic objectives agreed upon during the Crown Prince's visit and exploring avenues to broaden cooperation in key areas.
Among the major outcomes, Japan expressed gratitude for Kuwait's consistent and stable crude oil supply. Both sides agreed to advance cooperation in energy and related fields such as renewable energy, oil, and petrochemicals, recognizing these as pillars of their strategic alliance. They also confirmed that procedures are underway for lifting Kuwait's ban on Japanese beef imports, signaling progress in trade cooperation.
Discussions also extended to enhancing collaboration under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) framework, with Kuwait currently holding the GCC presidency. The two nations committed to deeper coordination on regional and international platforms—especially within the United Nations—addressing challenges in the Middle East and East Asia.
Ambassador Hayat highlighted the shared aspiration to expand the partnership in economic, cultural, scientific, academic, technical, and health sectors. He noted that both countries are working to align efforts in global development and crisis mitigation. The health sector, in particular, was identified as a priority for mutual investment and knowledge exchange, supporting sustainability and global competitiveness.
He also recalled Japan's unwavering support for Kuwait during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, stressing that Kuwait would never forget Japan's principled stance in defense of its sovereignty and rights. He further referenced the strong historic ties since 1958, initiated through oil exploration collaborations with the Arabian Oil Company.
The talks also featured in-depth discussions on political developments in the Middle East and Northeast Asia. The two sides stressed the importance of continued dialogue and joint diplomatic efforts, particularly under Kuwait's current leadership role in the GCC's Supreme Council.
Looking ahead, the two delegations discussed the upcoming official visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to Kuwait on September 1. The visit will include high-level talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and participation in the second joint ministerial meeting of the GCC-Japan Strategic Dialogue, aimed at expanding cooperation in sectors of mutual interest.
The Kuwaiti delegation included Ambassador to Japan Sami Al-Zamanan, Second Secretary Jaber Al-Sabah, Third Secretary Jamal Al-Otaibi, and Diplomatic Attachés Mubarak Al-Qamis and Sarah Al-Hasawi from the Asian Affairs Department. From the Japanese side, Ambassador Ando was joined by deputies and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Hayat arrived in Tokyo on an official visit to lead Kuwait's delegation to the consultations, which are part of the ongoing diplomatic framework for monitoring and expanding bilateral cooperation.