Japan looks to GCC countries for stability in Middle East

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Both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation to help bring about peace and stability in the Middle East. (MOFA)
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Both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation to help bring about peace and stability in the Middle East. (MOFA)
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Updated 07 July 2025
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Japan looks to GCC countries for stability in Middle East

  • FM Takeshi Iwaya meets with GCC’s Dr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi
  • Global oil industry, instability in Mideast under discussio

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met on Monday with the GCC’s Secretary-General Dr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi to discuss the global oil industry and growing instability in the Middle East.

Iwaya said the GCC countries are playing an increasingly important role amid regional and international turmoil, Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated.

Japan wants to deepen political and economic cooperation with the GCC to bring peace and stability to the region, including the conclusion of the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations.

Al-Budaiwi said the regional bloc was also hoping for the completion of EPA talks, and further cooperation under the Japan-GCC Action Plan.

Al-Budaiwi added that Tokyo was an important partner and extended an invitation for a meeting of the two parties’ foreign ministers.

The officials spoke candidly about issues in the Middle East, including the Israel and Iran conflict, attacks on the Gaza Strip and situation in Syria.

Iwaya said Japan would continue its diplomatic efforts to ensure the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran is implemented and avenues for dialogue are reopened.

Al-Budaiwi echoed this view and said the GCC nations remained committed to dialogue.

The officials shared their concerns about acts that threaten shipping routes, and attacks on oil facilities.

• This article also appears on Arab News Japan


SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

Updated 20 February 2026
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SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi says that Saudi Arabia is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence as a trusted national capability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Ghamdi said the goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity and improve quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

The second pillar is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently and with effective governance, Al-Ghamdi said.

The third pillar, he said, is governance that ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards.

This came during Al-Ghamdi’s speech at a high-level ministerial session held on Thursday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

He is heading the Saudi delegation, and the session saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers and technology leaders from around the world.

Al-Ghamdi also had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening, discussed AI cooperation and expressed his gratitude for hosting the summit and for the hospitality extended to the participants.