HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah has said that bilateral relations between Qatar and Japan were strategic.
In an interview with Qatar TV, al-Attiyah said that diplomatic relations with Japan, which began in 1972, never looked back since then.
The Foreign Minister noted that the meeting held between HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Emperor Akihito of Japan as well as the Emir’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw the two leaderships agree on views regarding regional developments.  
Al-Attiyah added that Japan was one of the biggest importers of energy from Qatar, in addition to strong ties in other investment and economic fields such as health and technology.  
Responding to a question on how Qatar and Japan saw developments in the region, the Foreign Minister said that both administrations had almost identical views on how to deal with foreign crises. Both countries have the ability to move swiftly to resolve any conflicts before they get out of hand, he said.  
Al-Attiyah stressed the importance of renouncing violence in resolving crises. In this regard, he referred to Qatar’s efforts to reach a political resolution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.  
On the bilateral relations with Japan, the Foreign Minister said that the two countries signed a host of agreements in health, technology, education as well as defence sectors. The two countries also signed agreements to develop the railway and subway systems in Qatar, he added.  
On the Qatar Friendship Fund, dedicated to funding projects to help the Japanese people, the Foreign Minister said that the fund was established under the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to help the people in the east of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. The fund has established 11 projects on Japan’s eastern coast, with four still pending he said.  
In response to a question on investment and economic co-operation between Japan and Qatar, His Excellency said that said that the two countries have a number of joint investment projects in Japan that are strategic in nature.
The Foreign Minister noted that there were more than 20 companies which are 100% owned by Japanese capital operating in Qatar today. There were another 30 that are jointly owned by Japanese and Qatari capital.  
On how to benefit from Japanese expertise to aid Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup 2022, al-Attiyah said Qatar looks beyond the World Cup and focuses on Qatar National Vision 2030.
On the Emir’s upcoming visit to Washington, the Foreign Minister stressed that bilateral relations between the United States and Qatar were strategic in nature. He highlighted Qatar’s strong ties with the US in all fields whether in education, defence, health and investment. Al-Attiyah added that the Emir’s visit to the US will reflect the strength of bilateral ties.