WORLD
Japan, Saudi Arabia confirm importance of stable oil supply
Baku, January 9 (AZERTAC). Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Sunday expressed agreement with Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi on the importance of securing sufficient crude oil supply and stabilizing prices, Japanese officials said.
Their meeting in Riyadh was held amid concerns that crude oil prices may rise sharply due to the heightening tension in the Persian Gulf region in light of the Iranian nuclear issue.
Al-Nuaimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources, showed Saudi Arabian readiness to work toward stabilizing the global oil market and providing sufficient oil to Japan to aid its recovery from the March disaster, according to the officials.
The two ministers also agreed to resume talks at an early date to conclude a bilateral investment pact and to cooperate in the fields of renewable energy development and seawater desalination, the officials said.
After moving to Qatar later in the day, Gemba met with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah al-Attiya and agreed that the two countries will cooperate in building infrastructures in Qatar before it hosts the soccer World Cup in 2022.
Al-Attiya also said Qatar will stably provide liquefied natural gas to Japan, according to the officials.
Gemba is on an eight-day tour to the Middle East countries that started Thursday.