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QNA
Tokyo
Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani on Monday began a two-day official working visit to Japan, as part of an Asian tour that will include several countries.
At the outset of the visit, the minister held talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and to exert efforts to realise the vision of leaderships of the two countries to build a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Qatari side welcomed Japan's decision to grant multiple entry visas (valid for three years) to holders of Qatari passports, starting from today, as a big step that contributes to the promotion of exchange and interaction between the peoples of the two countries.
The two sides also welcomed the completion of all procedures in the two countries to enforce mutual exemption of visa arrangements for the holders of Qatari diplomatic and special passports to Japan and the holders of Japanese diplomatic and official passports to the State of Qatar soon.
The Japanese side praised the role of Qatar as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas as well as its role as a regional actor in stability in the Middle East. Japan also expressed its desire to strengthen and develop bilateral relations in the political, security, economic and cultural fields.
The two sides discussed a number of bilateral issues, including ways to strengthen political and security dialogue, enhance economic and investment ties and boost cooperation and coordination in the field of education. They also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and in East Asia.
The foreign minister also met Chairman of the General Council of Japan's ruling council Toshihiro Nikaio who is also Japan-Qatar Friendship Association president and discussed with him bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by a number of parliamentarians and politicians.
The Qatar-Japan Friendship Association also held a reception ceremony at Imperial Hotel in honour of the Foreign Minister and the delegation accompanying him, which drew the participation of 52 leading businessmen and chairmen of Japanese firms operating in Qatar.
HE Sheikh Mohammed also attended the ceremony of memorandum exchange between Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF) and Onagawa town for offering a financial donation of $10 million from QFF to support the project of establishing a school that integrates elementary and junior high stages in Onagawa as part of QFF projects to support the relief efforts in areas affected by the 2011 east Japan earthquake.
Qatar's Ambassador to Japan HE Youssef Mohammed Bilal signed for Qatar while Onagawa Mayor Suda Yoshiaki signed for the Japanese side.
