the agency saidbloombergSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Japan, scheduled for later this week, was canceled without giving reasons.
The agency added that Mohammed bin Salman was expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the visit, which was to last from Saturday to Monday, TV channel ‘TBS’ reported.
Bloomberg indicated it wasn’t immediately clear why the visit, which was Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first to Japan in nearly three years, was canceled.
The news of the cancellation of the Saudi crown prince’s visit to Japan has not been confirmed by official sources in the Kingdom.
Earlier, the Japan Foreign Trade Organization said a business forum for Japanese and Saudi governments and businessmen due to be held in Tokyo next Monday was canceled after the Saudi delegation canceled its visit. , according to the report. at Reuters.
An official of the organization, responsible for organizing the event, said Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih was among the delegation expected to attend the forum, without providing further details.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters, “Japan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is very important as it is an important strategic partner. It is important to carry out high-level visits between Japan and Saudi Arabia in the near future.” .
Japan is one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s most important economic partners, as total trade between the two countries reached about $34 billion last year. The Kingdom is Japan’s largest supplier of crude oil, supplying one million barrels a day.
Tensions have risen between the US and Saudi Arabia since OPEC+ decided to cut production last October, but most other major importers, including Japan, have not publicly criticized Riyadh.
The Saudi government said last month that doctors had asked Prince Mohammed bin Salman to avoid “long and frequent air travel” due to an ear health issue.
Mohammed bin Salman did not attend the Arab League summit in Algeria and did not travel to India in early November, some Indian media reported.
However, he traveled to Indonesia for the G-20 summit this week, before traveling to South Korea on Thursday to meet with President Yun Seok-yul and local business officials.
And official media reported that Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Thailand on an official visit, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Friday.
