TOKYO, Dec 17 (KUNA) -- Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed an accord to jointly promote energy-related projects and support small businesses, in a move that will deepen ties between the two countrties and contribute to secure energy supplies for Japan. Japan is the biggest buyer of the UAE's crude oil.
The first ministerial Japan-UAE Joint Economic Committee here, chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, was aimed at boosting the bilateral economic relations, particularly in investment, business environment and energy fields.
At the one-day meeting, the two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to conclude at an early date a free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council members -- Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
After the talks, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari told reporters that the UAE is a very important partner of Japan, saying, "The talks are the first significant step toward strengthening economic ties between the two countries, as the bilateral cooperation will no longer be limited under the agenda of energy.
The talks were held on the occasion of the three-day visit to Japan by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who arrived in Tokyo Sunday.
