Kuwait, Japan to boost efforts toward trade, investment protection deals 12/10/2009

Ambassador Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, who led the Kuwaiti delegation to the first Japan-Arab Economic Forum in Tokyo, agreed on Thursday with Japanese officials to promote joint efforts to upgrade bilateral economic and trade relations.
During separate talks with Nobuyoshi Chihara, Deputy Director-General at Foreign Ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau and Hideichi Okada, Director-General of Commerce and Information Policy Bureau at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, Sheikh Ali expressed his satisfaction towards the forum and Thursday's meetings, saying it showcased Japan's hospitality. The Kuwaiti ambassador, who serves as Director of Foreign Ministry's Economic Department, also congratulated Chihara and Okada on Democratic Party of Japan's victory in Lower House election on August 30, and expressed hope to strengthen cooperation in all fields between the two countries under Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's administration. He also stressed the commitment of the Kuwaiti leadership to continue its efforts and cooperation with the new Japanese government to ensure further progress and prosperity for both countries. The meetings were accompanied by Kuwait's Charge d'affaires Mohammed Al-Mutairi.
Sheikh Ali encouraged Japanese companies to engage in economic activities and to increase investment in Kuwait, expressing hope that the two countries will soon reach final agreements on investment protection, as well as economic and trade cooperation, which will give a tremendous boost to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Japan in 2011. For his part, Chihara thanked for the visit of Sheikh Ali to Japan and said he shares the same views with Sheikh Ali on the development of bilateral relations. "I hope Kuwait will continue its cooperation toward the conclusion of those agreements on them, as well as the Japan-GCC free trade agreement," Chihara told the ambassador.
Okada said Kuwait and Japan have gradually expanded their cooperation not only in the field of oil but also across a broad range of areas, including education and modern technology, adding that the Kuwaiti - Japanese joint committee will endorse efforts to achieve final agreements on trade and investment. Sheikh Ali attended the Japan-Arab Economic Forum earlier this week as on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The forum was established by the Japanese government and the Arab League, in cooperation with Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East and Japan Business Federation, to advance the construction of mutual multi-layered relations in various fields, including trade, investment, energy, environment, scientific and technological research, and the development of human resources.