Emir begins official visit to Japan

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received by Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura at Tokyo International Airport on Thursday.

QNA/Tokyo

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in Tokyo on Thursday on an official visit to Japan. HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation were greeted at Tokyo International Airport by Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura, a number of senior officials in Japan, Qatar’s Ambassador to Japan Yousuf Mohamed Bilal, and Japan’s Ambassador to Qatar Shingo Tsuda. Several ambassadors of Arab countries accredited to Japan and members of the Qatari embassy were also present to receive HH the Emir. In a statement upon arrival, HH the Emir expressed his sincere greetings and those of the people of Qatar to Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Japanese people, wishing them the best of health and happiness and their country further progress and prosperity. HH the Emir also expressed his deep satisfaction at the level achieved in the relations between Qatar and Japan, which are constantly growing in all areas, especially in the economic field. He added that his visit will contribute to supporting and strengthening the close bilateral relations between the two countries and expanding the prospects of co-operation for the good of the two peoples. Following is HH the Emir’s statement on arrival in Tokyo: “It gives me pleasure, at the outset of my visit to Japan, to express to His Majesty Emperor Akihito, and His Excellency the Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe and the people of Japan, my sincere greetings and the greetings of the Qatari people, wishing them all the best of well-being and further prosperity and progress of their friendly country. "I want also to avail myself of this occasion to express great satisfaction with the continuous development and increasing growth that the excellent ties of friendship and co-operation between our two countries are witnessing in all fields, especially in the economic field. "I am confident that this visit would contribute to enhancing the strong bilateral relations between our two countries and expanding the scope of co-operation between them for the good and benefit of our two peoples.”