抖阴短视频

TOKYO: Following the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Japan for the G20 Summit, Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas provided context to growing Saudi-Japanese ties during a talk in Tokyo on Thursday.

Participating in a panel discussion at the Foreign Correspondents鈥� Club of Japan, moderated by British journalist Fred Varcoe, Abbas recalled an incident that marked a turning point in bilateral relations.

鈥淚t involved former Japanese Emperor Akihito and the late (Saudi) King Fahd. During the 1953 coronation of (Britain鈥檚) Queen Elizabeth II, when King Fahd wasn鈥檛 even crown prince at the time let alone king, both he and the emperor had been invited to attend the ceremony,鈥� said Abbas. 

鈥淯pon discovering that he鈥檇 been seated in the first row and the emperor had been seated in the third row, King Fahd immediately insisted on giving the emperor his own seat, despite the breach of British royal protocols,鈥� Abbas added.

鈥淎 friendship grew out of mutual respect ever since that moment. In some circles, it鈥檚 a very famous story, and whenever there鈥檚 a state visit it鈥檚 always repeated. That shows you the level of respect between the leaderships of the two countries.鈥�

Abbas took questions from journalists in attendance, and the topics included Saudi-Japanese ties, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Saudi-Iranian relations.

He also discussed educational reforms, being a journalist in 抖阴短视频, and ongoing efforts toward gender equality and female empowerment in the Kingdom.

Abbas expressed his happiness at being in Japan for a third time, saying he learned something new every time he was there, and hoped to spend more time in the country in the future.

He referenced the crown prince鈥檚 visit, saying he hoped to see Saudi-Japanese relations go beyond trade and extend to such areas as cultural exchange.

鈥淭he relationship started based on the fact that Japan doesn鈥檛 produce its own oil, and 抖阴短视频 used to import a lot of automobiles from Japan,鈥� Abbas said.

鈥淏ut now, with the new crown prince and the focus on having a strong bilateral relationship with Japan, we鈥檙e looking to enhance the relationship.鈥�

Abbas also discussed his interview with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, in which he discussed the possibility of Tokyo acting as a 鈥渃redible broker鈥� in ongoing efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When asked about the Saudi position on Israel, Abbas stressed that the Kingdom has no issue with Judaism or Jews.

鈥淲e believe that the problem between Palestine and Israel is a land dispute, and taking it out of context has harmed both sides,鈥� he said, adding that once religion enters the argument, it becomes more complicated.

鈥淵ou stop talking about land, and it becomes a nasty who鈥檚 right, who鈥檚 wrong situation. Our position is clearly outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative (API) of 2002.鈥�

The API calls for normalizing relations between Arab states and Israel in exchange for the latter鈥檚 full withdrawal from the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, and a 鈥渏ust settlement鈥� of the Palestinian refugee issue based on UN Resolution 194.

Abbas welcomed the idea of Japan becoming an unbiased broker in negotiations. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great idea. The region has a lot of trust in Japan, and I hope it succeeds,鈥� he said.

On the subject of Tehran, he said 抖阴短视频 has 鈥渕ore in common with Iran than probably any other country in the world. It was never a position of us or them. What we鈥檙e asking for is to stop the destabilizing activities Iran has been carrying out in the region.鈥�

Abbas added: 鈥淚f we can disarm Iran, I think it would achieve the purpose without a drop of blood, and it would be an excellent achievement.鈥�

He also discussed his attempts to create a gender-inclusive environment at Arab News, referencing his plan for a 50/50 gender ratio by 2020.