Saudi Crown Prince Cancels Japan Trip Over King Salman's Health Concerns
Saudi Crown Prince Cancels Japan Trip Over King Salman's Health Concerns
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has canceled his planned trip to Japan this week due to concerns about his father, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz’s health. This visit would have been the Crown Prince’s first to Japan since 2019.
Planned Visit Details
The Crown Prince was scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the emperor, and representatives from several Japanese companies. One of the main goals was to sign agreements to improve supply chains for liquid hydrogen, reflecting the growing energy cooperation between the two countries.
King Salman's Health Issues
King Salman, who is 88 years old, is suffering from lung inflammation and is being treated with antibiotics at the Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Last month, he was hospitalized for a routine check-up. King Salman became the ruler of Saudi Arabia in 2015 and made his son, Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince in 2017.
Future Plans
Despite the Crown Prince's absence, a Saudi delegation will still travel to Japan to continue some of the planned discussions. Japan’s government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said the visit would be rescheduled. On Monday, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa spoke with her Saudi counterpart, wishing King Salman a speedy recovery and emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations.
Economic and Diplomatic Relations
Japan and Saudi Arabia have strong economic ties. Saudi Arabia is Japan’s largest supplier of crude oil, worth around $34.3 billion annually. Japan has been helping Saudi Arabia with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from oil. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $42 billion, making Saudi Arabia Japan’s eighth-largest trading partner.
The two countries also work together on diplomatic and security issues. Recently, Crown Prince Mohammed met with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan to discuss the war in Gaza.
Conclusion
The postponement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Japan highlights the impact of personal health issues on diplomatic engagements. As King Salman’s health remains a priority, Saudi Arabia continues to maintain its diplomatic and economic dialogues, ensuring progress towards its Vision 2030 goals.
Reference
- Saudi crown prince cancels Japan trip over King Salman's health concerns
- Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman postpones Japan trip over king's health
- Saudi king to be treated for lung inflammation hours after undergoing tests
- Saudi Arabia's King Salman is undergoing treatment for lung infection: statement
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