UAE and Japan sign civil nuclear agreement

The agreement, which will allow transfer of technology and expertise to the UAE, was signed in the presence of visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at a ceremony in Zabeel Palace in Dubai on Thursday.

Courtesy: Youtube.com/Sheikhmohammed.ae

When asked whether this cooperation agreement would allow for the sale of nuclear fuel, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yutaka Yokoi did not give more information. However, he said his country “will not provide the main reactor”.

The diplomat told reporters that Tokyo would provide “a small part of the technology for the facility”, which is being built by a South Korean consortium.

Japan has created the necessary legal framework for any future project, which also covers the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and a commitment to non-proliferation.

“Japan can contribute to the UAE energy supplies by means of nuclear energy conservation and renewable energy,” the Japanese prime minister told the UAE-Japanese Business Council.

“Japan can make a new contribution to provide new energy to the UAE, including saving energy, renewable energy or atomic energy,” he said.

The Japanese premier, who first visited six years ago, arrived in the capital on Wednesday evening from Riyadh.

He called on General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to review the political and economic cooperation between Japan and Abu Dhabi.

The Japanese leader suggested
UAE leadership make the bilateral relationship more comprehensive to reflect the strong economic cooperation that exists between the two nations.

UAE-Japan bilateral relations, which are more energy-centric, would also expand into political and security areas, Yokoi told reporters.

Asked to explain the security cooperation, another Japanese official present said: “We’ve just began to understand each other’s situation first. It may lead us to the possibility to start a more comprehensive cooperation and exchange of information in the field of security.”

Japan was working on “maritime awareness”, including fighting piracy, he said.

Japan wants a robust relationship with the GCC countries as it imports all of its fuel oil supplies from the region.

The visiting prime minister, who is heading a 100-man business delegation comprising top business leaders, has brought with him some expensive Wagyu beef from the Mishima region and the famous Tuna for the UAE leadership. Japan hopes to enter the UAE’s beef market.

haseeb@khaleejtimes.com