Japan PM’s UAE visit a reflection of deep-rooted relations
abu dhabi — His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Qasr Al Watan on Monday.
“UAE-Japan relations are historic and based on trust, cooperation, respect and mutual interests. We are both keen to enhance this legacy for the good of our nations,” said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in a tweet after receiving the Japanese Prime Minister.
The visit of Shinzo Abe to the UAE is a new milestone in the 48year strategic partnership between both the countries.
Japan is among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the UAE in 1971. The UAE Embassy in Tokyo was inaugurated in December 1973 and the Japanese Embassy was inaugurated in Abu
Dhabi in April 1974. The bilateral ties between the two countries have significantly developed, aided by the support of their leaderships and their mutual keenness.
The bilateral relations have witnessed mutual official visits by their leaders. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan visited Japan in May 1990, when he met with senior Japanese officials, and Emperor Akihito.
In 2007, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made a historic three-day visit to Japan, when he met with the Emperor and Shinzo Abe, who made a similar visit to the UAE in the same year. In 2014, during his visit to Tokyo, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed discussed the cooperation and friendship between the two countries with Abe. The most recent visit by Abe was in 2018, when Sheikh Mohamed received him in Abu Dhabi.
The economic ties between the two countries are witnessing ongoing development, and Japan is among the UAE’s top trade partners in the world. Japanese investments and advanced technologies have played a key role in supporting the UAE’s development, especially in advanced technology, renewable energy, aviation and healthcare.
The UAE is Japan’s No. 2 oil supplier, providing, by September 2019, around 29.9 per cent of Japan’s total oil imports.
Education is one of the major components of the bilateral ties between the two countries. In 1978, the first Japanese school was inaugurated in the UAE, and in 2009, it began teaching the Arabic language, Islamic education and social studies to Emirati students, along with its Japanese curriculum. Over 100 Emirati students are also studying in Japanese universities. —