Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Kishida by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Mohammed

On January 31, commencing at 5:40 pm for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, during his visit to Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The overview is as follows.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed Minister Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to Japan and stated that Japan attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Qatar, and that he held two telephone talks with H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar last year and confirmed their close cooperation. In response, Minister Sheikh Mohammed stated that Qatar also attaches great importance to its historic friendship with Japan, and that he is pleased to see steady progress in cooperation between Japan and Qatar in a wide range of areas.

2. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his hopes for fruitful discussions at the 2nd Japan-Qatar Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue to be held during this visit by Minister Sheikh Mohammad, which is an important framework in realizing cooperative relations between Japan and Qatar.

3. The two sides confirmed to further strengthen bilateral relations in various areas, such as politics, economy and security, as well as in the energy sector, including clean energy. The two sides also confirmed to work together for the early commencement of a new visa waiver measure based on the Passport Registration System for ordinary passport holders of Qatar, who wish to enter Japan, in order to further promote exchange between Japan and Qatar. In addition, the two sides discussed regional affairs including the situation in Ukraine.