Foreign Minister, Japanese counterpart discuss friendship and cooperation ties

Muscat: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister received in Muscat on Thursday Motegi Toshimitsu, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the friendship and cooperation ties between the two countries, reaffirming the existing partnership and their commitment to continue building upon and developing it across its various political, economic, and cultural dimensions. They also emphasised the importance of political dialogue and the exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.

As for regional and international developments and means ofaddressing them, the two sides discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions and create conducive conditions for peaceful solutions in the region, particularly concerning the freedom and safety of maritime navigation through vital waterways in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, in accordance with the rules of international law, so as to safeguard the security of international trade and the stability of global supply chains.

The two sides explored ways to develop economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two friendly countries, and to encourage partnerships between public and private sector institutions.

They also addressed the enhancement of cooperation in the oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors, and its expansion into renewable energy, hydrogen, and ammonia, alongside cooperation in the tourism, transport, environment, technology, maritime security, food security, and education sectors.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Hosni, Head of the Asia and Pacific Department at the Foreign Ministry, Serizawa Kiyoshi, Ambassador of Japan to the Sultanate of Oman and a number of officials from both sides.