Kuwaiti envoy hails ties with Japan
2/28/2010

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi on renewed his commitment to the success of the coming year of 2011, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Japan.
"We are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 2011," Al-Otaibi told on the occasion of Kuwait's 49th anniversary of National Day and the 19th Liberation Day. "Our relations were started long before that and before Independence when we cooperated with Arabian Oil Company. In this context, we reaffirm our commitment to maintain the flow of energy sources to Japan with prices that suit the interest of producers and consumers," he said.
Al-Otaibi also expressed hope that Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will pay a visit to Kuwait at the time he deems appropriate. Last November, H.
H. the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah extended an invitation to his Japanese counterpart to visit Kuwait for talks on strengthening bilateral relations under Japan's new government, which was launched six months ago.
On the economic front, the ambassador welcomed the recent signing of a double-taxation avoidance agreement aimed at facilitating economic activity and investment in each other's country, the first of its kind between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The two countries are currently in talks to promote and protect investement of the investors, according to the ambassador.
The diplomat also urged Japanese companies, which boast their good reputation on the regional and international levels, to join bid for Kuwait's massive development projects with a budget of KD 37 billion.
Referring to the decoration of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister by Emperor Akihito last November with the Rising Sun Order, Al-Otaibi said it is a recognition of his considerable efforts in strengthening and promoting the distinguished bilateral relations connecting the two countries, as well as his appreciated endeavors in the environment protection area. "This Imperial Honoring translated Japan's high consideration of the significant logistic services Kuwait provided for Japanese Self-Defense Forces from 2004 till 2008, while these forces had been on ground for humanitarian assistance of post-Saddam Iraq,