Saudi Arabia and Japan agree to promote energy cooperation

Japan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in renewable energy and conservation of power, as well as support for bilateral small businesses, Japanese officials said.
According to the officials, and during talks with Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, visiting Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi underscored cooperation the two countries conducted, particularly in the energy field and increased investments by Japanese companies in the kingdom.

While reaffirming their commitment to closer industrial partnership, the ministers welcomed new a project recently announced by the state-run Saudi Arabian Oil Company -- Aramco -- and Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Company, calling it "a symbol of close cooperation between the two countries." On April 19, Saudi Aramco and Mitsui signed an agreement to implement the feasibility study for the expansion of a jointly-owned mega petroleum refining and petrochemical complex.
Al-Naimi was in Tokyo to attend a round-table ministerial meeting of Asian oil producers and consumers.