The government is preparing to establish a foreign ministerial-level strategic dialogue with Saudi Arabia and hold foreign ministers' meetings on a regular basis between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group of six Persian Gulf nations, in an attempt to strengthen ties with oil-producing nations and ensure a stable supply of energy.
The envisaged strategic dialogue is a framework to discuss policies in a wide range of areas, such as diplomacy and economy, from a medium- and long-term perspective. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar from Sunday to Wednesday.
In connection with a meeting between Kishida and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, scheduled for Sunday, the two governments are expected to agree on the establishment of the strategic dialogue. Japan plans to send Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to Saudi Arabia in September for the first meeting of the bilateral strategic dialogue.
