The Speech of

HRH Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz

Crown Prince, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense

and Aviation and General Inspector

in Saudi Arabia

 On the occasion of the luncheon hosted by

The Japanese Economic Organizations

 Tokyo

(April 7, 2006)

In the Name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful

Your Excellency Mr. Kakutaro Kitashiro

Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you:

           I still remember with pride my first visit to your friendly country in the year 1960 when I was received with wonderful hospitality from our friends in Japan. Today, I am back again in this beautiful country carrying with me the affection and appreciation of the peoples and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

           We are happy that our two countries had celebrated last year the passage of fifty year since we started our diplomatic relations. Our relations had seen during this period an increasing development in the various fields through exchanged visits at different levels.

           Today, with the wise leadership of our two countries, these relations are witnessing an important development for our common interest based on the special status which they both enjoy on the regional and international levels. On the one hand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts the Holy Shrines of Islam. Based on its adherence to the Islamic teaching, it works constantly on fighting terrorism and spreading international peace and stability. This is the only way for coexistence among peoples and nations.

           Being the main oil supplier, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not only seek to achieve comprehensive development within its boundaries, but rather believes, as part of its oil policy, in working to support the development of the world economy through stabilizing the oil markets.

           Japan, on the other hand and with hard work by its citizens, has been able to rise from the aftermath of the war to become one of the most important industrial countries and indeed the second most powerful economy in the world.

           These achievements by our two countries were possible because of their commitment to great values and high morale. This fact has gained us the respect and appreciation of the world. But, in turn, made our responsibilities greater on the regional and international levels.

Dear friends:

           Your friendly country is the second greatest commercial partner of my country. The relations of our two countries have witnessed a new march after the historical visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to Japan in 1998 during which we both signed a strategic cooperation document for the Twenty First Century.

           Based on the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to this cooperation and as a sign of its appreciation of the distinguished commercial relations with Japan, I am happy to announce the opening of a Saudi Commercial Attaché Office in Tokyo.

My Friends: 

           I am hopeful that the economic cooperation between our two countries will see a greater increase in various fields. We both have shown our ability to enter into big and vital projects in the areas of petroleum and petrochemical industries in both countries.

           At the end, I would like to assure our friends that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue to exert its efforts to facilitate the establishment of more mutual investment projects which will be of benefit to our two countries and nations.

Peace be with you.