HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister meets the Prime Minister of Japan
Tokyo, Sep. 19 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today met with His Excellency Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan.
The meeting took place as part of His Royal Highness’ official visit to Japan.
His Royal Highness highlighted the strength of relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan, which continues to go from strength to strength in line with the support of both His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan.
His Royal Highness affirmed that the advanced strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan is opening new horizons in bilateral relations, particularly within vital priority sectors.
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad noted the Kingdom's commitment to further bolstering the strategic partnership to unlock new and mutually beneficial opportunities towards shared goals and interests.
His Royal Highness commended the distinguished and successful organisation of Expo 2025 Osaka and the diverse events it has hosted, which showcased innovative solutions and addressed global challenges, contributing to the pursuit of a more sustainable and prosperous future.
His Royal Highness highlighted the importance of all countries’ participation through their national pavilions, which reflect the latest advancements across diverse fields. In this regard, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister noted that such contributions underscore the significance of this global exhibition as a platform for fostering excellence and driving international sustainable development.
During the meeting, topics of shared interest and areas of bilateral cooperation were discussed. Throughout the meeting, the importance of strengthening cooperation was emphasised to create lucrative opportunities that benefit both countries and their peoples.
The latest regional and international developments were also discussed, along with global efforts to consolidate the foundations of global peace and stability.
It was then announced that the level of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan will be elevated from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership, further enhancing the frameworks of joint cooperation and paving the way for expanded collaboration across vital and priority sectors.
In the presence of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister of Japan, the following were signed:
1. A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Bahrain Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), aimed at enhancing cooperation across joint projects, research and development, training, and the exchange of expertise. The Memorandum was signed on the Bahraini side by HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and on the Japanese side by Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of JAXA.
2. A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Civil Service Bureau of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), to cooperate in human resources management across the public sector, was signed on the Bahraini side by HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and on the Japanese side by Yamana Kenji, Senior Vice President of JICE.
The official visit also witnessed the signing of:
· A memorandum of Understanding between the Information and e-Government Authority (iGA) and Japan’s Digital Agency regarding the exchange of expertise in the field of e-government and digital transformation. The Memorandum was signed on the Bahraini side by HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and on the Japanese side by HE Masaaki Taira, Minister for Digital Transformation of Japan.
· A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Japan Patent Office regarding the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program. The memorandum was signed on the Bahraini side by HE Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and on the Japanese side by Futoshi Yasuda, Deputy Commissioner, Japan Patent Office.
· A consultation document between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan on air transport services and direct flights, signed on the Bahraini side by HE Ahmed Al Doseri, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Japan, and on the Japanese side by Miyazawa Koichi, Director General, Civil Aviation Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan.
Concluding the meeting, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister attended a dinner banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Japan in his honour and that of the accompanying delegation’s official visit to Japan.
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Minister of the Prime Minister's Court, and several senior officials, also attended the meeting.
