Kojiro Takano said yesterday that the planned visit to Japan by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, will boost relations between the two countries. The visit is scheduled for October 21 to 23, and will allow Saudi and Japanese officials to exchange viewpoints on regional and international issues of common concern, notably security in the Gulf Region and the Middle East peace process. Ambassador Takano said the talks would also cover cooperation in the fields of economy, technology, education, culture, vocational training and protection of environment. The visit, the first by Crown Prince Abdullah to Japan, comes in the context of a world tour that has already taken him to the United Kingdom, France and the United States. During the visit the Crown Prince will meet with Emperor Akihito, Crown Prince Narohito, Prime Minister Keozo Obuchi, and the ministers of foreign affairs, international commerce, industry, and education.
Japan is the Kingdom's second trade, economic and investment partner after the United States.
Meanwhile, in an interview at the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh on Saturday, Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Waseem Sajjad highlighted the significance of Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to Pakistan next month, saying that it is yet another proof of the growing brotherly and friendly ties between the two Islamic countries. The Crown Prince's talks would cover political, economic, educational, cultural, technological and scientific subjects. Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsi reported that King Fahd went on to praise the efforts being made by governmental departments in direct charge of service to citizens and expatriates in the Kingdom. Marking the anniversary of National Day and highlighting the centennial of the event that led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdulrahman Al-Saud, King Fahd recalled that, ever since the days of its founder, the Kingdom has been exerting its utmost efforts to realize whatever is of benefit to the nation and the citizens, and always works to overcome whatever obstacles and difficulties emerge. The King expressed gratitude and appreciation to the leaders, organizations and individuals from Arab, Islamic and friendly countries who extended on the occasion of the Kingdom's National Day their feelings of fraternity and love towards this country, and their thanks for its adherence to the cause of Arab and Islamic nations and for its contribution to the enforcement of security, order and stability all over the world.