Japan's industry minister discusses energy supplies with Middle East countries

Japan's industry minister Akazawa Ryosei said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate with Japan to ensure stable supplies of crude oil.

Akazawa spoke to reporters in France on Tuesday. On Monday and Tuesday, he visited the two oil-producing nations, amid supply disruptions caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Akazawa said he and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud agreed to cooperate to strengthen energy supply chains.

In the UAE, Akazawa met the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber. The Japanese side proposed ways to steadily increase the UAE's crude oil shipments from June onwards, and is said to have received a positive response.