Saturday, Apr 25, 2009

(Adds Qatar minister's comments on interdependence, Japan prime minister's comments)

Tokyo (Dow Jones)--Qatar's oil minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah Saturday urged Asian oil consuming nations and Mideast producers for greater "mutual interdependence" and said their key customers in the region have the resources to supply future energy consumption despite the global recession.

"Almost all countries are going through difficult times trying to readjust and cope with the severe problems created by a set of complex collapses in managing the financial and economic systems, both on a national and a global scale," Al Attiyah told Japanese leaders at a gala dinner in Tokyo.

Asian nations "will soon be the center of gravity of energy consumption and also have the resources that will supply it," he added.

Attiyah, who is acting as the representative for GCC producers attending the 3rd Asian Roundtable, also said he strongly believes that dialogue and frank exchanges can achieve a lot and also save time and GCC countries are keen to encourage transparency in discussions.

"What we can achieve on the regional scale will be a contribution towards Middle East and global stabilisation, we believe in a mutual interdependence in international relations, ultimately the goal for both producers and consumers of energy must be mutual interdependence," Attiyah said.

"The challenge of change created by the convergence of climate change and energy security involves all the global players...the key is creating the framework for understanding that sits all the balance of interests that translates into mutual interdependence and trust." he said.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso at the opening of the dinner, said, "The countries of East Asia have established a system of international division of labor through mutual trade and investment..."

"If this relationship in East Asia can be further expanded to embrace the countries of the Middle East, then the countries in Asia as well as in the Middle East would be ensured of their future development and prosperity."

-By Michael S. Arnold, Tahani Karrar, Mari Iwata and Andrew Monahan, Dow Jones Newswires, 080 3458 3268; Tahani.Karrar@dowjones.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

25-04-09 1149GMT