Riyadh: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takeshi Iwaya, at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday. The meeting focused on strengthening Gulf-Japanese relations across various fields, with a particular emphasis on economic collaboration and trade cooperation. Both parties expressed a desire to enhance the volume of exchange to meet mutual aspirations in advancing economic ties.

According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting also reviewed the first round of free trade agreement negotiations between the GCC and Japan, which took place in December 2024. The preparations for the second round of negotiations, scheduled to be held in Tokyo by the end of next June, were also discussed. The GCC Secretary General emphasized the importance of this agreement, highlighting the strong relations between the two sides.

Additionally, the latest developments in the joint action plan for 2024-2028 between the GCC countries and Japan were followed up. This plan serves as a roadmap for deepening the strategic partnership and aims to bolster cooperation in energy, trade, investment, education, health, tourism, cultural exchange, and political coordination. The discussions also touched on recent regional and international developments.