Japanese Kishida Requests Semiconductor and Battery Investment from Saudi Bin Salman

Kishida Meets Crown Prince Bin Salman During Middle East Tour
Japan-Saudi Arabia Strengthen Energy Cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th, during his Middle East tour, Prime Minister Kishida met with Crown Prince bin Salman to discuss various topics including energy, trade, and tourism.

Prime Minister Kishida expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia's long-standing stable supply of crude oil. Crown Prince bin Salman then mentioned the need to work so that both oil-producing and oil-consuming countries can benefit.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (right) is welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the 16th (local time). (Photo by Yonhap News)

The two countries plan to review specific agenda items for discussion through the clean energy cooperation framework proposed by Saudi Arabia.

Kyodo News explained, “Saudi Arabia has a strong interest in refining technologies such as hydrogen, which emits no carbon dioxide during combustion, to reduce its dependence on oil.”

It added, “About 40 Japanese companies participated in Prime Minister Kishida’s Middle East visit, and 26 documents were signed with the Saudi side in the energy sector. Japan aims to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia through technological cooperation and to secure crude oil stably.”

Prime Minister Kishida and Crown Prince bin Salman also agreed on the necessity to activate investment and exchanges between the two countries. Kishida requested Saudi Arabia to expand investments in Japan’s semiconductor and battery sectors. Crown Prince bin Salman expressed that he values Japanese investment.

After the meeting with Crown Prince bin Salman, Prime Minister Kishida told reporters, “We have moved beyond the traditional relationship of oil-producing and oil-consuming countries and deepened a new global partnership in the decarbonization era.”

Meanwhile, following Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Kishida visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), held talks with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and announced a joint statement focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of climate change. The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will be held in the UAE in November-December.