Abu Dhabi: The UAE and Japan signed two major agreements for cooperation in nuclear energy and avoidance of double taxation, and 12 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in culture, education and medical sectors during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
During Abe’s official meeting with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, major agreements were signed by senior UAE and Japanese officials in the presence of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister. Several other senior officials also attended the ceremony at Zabeel Palace yesterday.
The agreement on nuclear energy will facilitate transfer of nuclear technology, expertise and equipment between both nations. It is expected to support the nuclear power plants in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, being constructed as part of UAE’s strategy to diversify energy sources.
The convention for avoidance of double taxation signed by Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Yoshiko Kamo, Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, will help the businesses operating in both nations.
Oil and gas concessions
Abe has sought extending the existing oil and gas concessions from the UAE that expire in 2018, in his meeting with Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, Japanese officials said.
An MoU for cultural cooperation was signed between Kalimat project of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) and Japan Foundation.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of ADTCA, and Eiji Taguchi, Executive vice-president of Japan Foundation signed the MoU for cooperation in translation of Japanese books into Arabic and vice-versa.
About 11 other MoU were also signed separately between various UAE and Japanese institutions.
In a joint statement the UAE and Japan emphasised the importance of holding the Japan-UAE Joint Economic Committee, the Abu Dhabi Japan Economic Council and exchanging business missions, while welcoming the close collaboration between the governments and the private sectors of the two countries.
