Japanese ambassador Seiichi Otsuka has lauded Qatar for its positive approach to global issues, citing the country’s resilience in continuously supporting the international community.

The envoy was speaking as part of the ongoing visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Japan – the first high-level meeting between the two countries after the blockade began.

“The Japanese roles also coincide with the Qatari role in supporting international efforts to support peace keeping forces,” Otsuka said.

He stressed that Japan fully backs Qatar’s intervention to fill the void that the US created in supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which helped stabilise the region.

Otsuka also highlighted Qatar’s significant role in supporting the stabilisation in Jordan in the aftermath of the protests, creating more job opportunities.

“This is important to the region from a Japanese point of view. In addition, no one can overlook the role of the State of Qatar when it intervened to support the Turkish currency from collapsing,” he said. “Japan weighs such efforts which coincide with the Japanese principles to preserve stability in the region.”

In other areas of co-operation between Qatar and Japan, Otsuka noted that they have ongoing exchange of experts in various fields, including the human genome project, mathematics teaching method in the elementary school level, project for vegetable factory without soil, and experimental plant for industrial waste water desalination,

These projects are on non-commercial basis, according to the envoy. He stressed that Qatar University is also supporting Islamic studies in Japan.

About future high-level meetings in the future, Otsuka said the Japanese Government intends to continue an exchange of visits of high-level government officials with Qatar.

“After we shall confirm the setting up of strategic dialogue between the two countries at this time, we could expect, at the outset, some official meetings to be held in both capitals under this scheme without delay,” he said.

Otsuka noted that Japan also hopes to diversify its co-operation with Qatar. Knowledge-based industries and economy will then be introduced under new investment circumstance in the country, attracting more foreign investors.

He said that forming joint venture between the two sides can provide an opportunity to make smooth transfer of technology to indigenous companies.

“In this regard, the recent enactment of new law on non- Qatari investment is noteworthy,” the envoy pointed out.

The Japan government expressed optimism that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be successful, he added.

“Before this big event, in Japan, we have rugby World Cup this year and Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Therefore, we are willing to share our experience as a host including security measures and logistical support and public relations with Qatar,” Otsuka said.

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