Riyadh, (IINA) : Sunday’s meetings between the visiting Japanese ministers and Saudi officials in Riyadh have provided a fresh boost to the two countries’ relations, Arab News reported.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received at Al-Yamamah Palace Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Hiroshige Seko and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonora and their accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan as well as the prospects for further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields were reviewed. The audience was attended by a number of Saudi ministers and Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom Norihiro Okuda.

Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, also reviewed with the visiting ministers the areas of partnership to realize Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The two parties discussed the role of Japanese companies and government in activating the achievement of the Vision, including the development of joint programs between the two countries since the start of the Joint Saudi-Japanese Group for Vision 2030.

At the meetings between the ministers, Japan and Saudi Arabia agreed to advance bilateral cooperation in fields such as network-connected devices and renewable energy.

In the first meeting held in the Saudi capital to support the Kingdom’s structural reform drive and help Japanese companies make inroads, Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko said the occasion marks the beginning of bilateral cooperation in a concrete form.

“If combined with the Abenomics economy policy mix being pursued by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Saudi Arabia’s reform efforts would create a “synergy” that yields significant benefits,” Seko said at the outset of the meeting.

The ministerial-level meeting was attended by Adel Fakeih, minister of economy and planning, among other officials.

At the meeting, the two sides also agreed on Japanese support in areas such as talent development in animation, video games, energy conservation, nuclear power, martial arts seminars, and athletic training, Japanese officials said.

Executives of about 30 Japanese companies accompanying Seko also met with Saudi officials and pitched their business plans.

The meeting was the result of an agreement reached between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in Tokyo last month.

During the meeting between businessmen of the two countries held at the headquarters of the Council of Saudi Chambers on Sunday, Japan and Saudi Arabia also agreed to advance bilateral trade cooperation between the two private sectors.