Japan and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed on holding high level talks between officials from both sides, at a time when Tokyo, the fourth largest oil importer, is aspiring to boost energy security.
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais told KUNA that he met with Japanese deputy Foreign Minister Kei Takagi at the organization's headquarters in Vienna, where the two discussed global energy supply and oil demand expectations.
Al-Ghais added that they had agreed upon extending a direct and permanent contact line between the two sides.
Japan, while working on integrating renewable energy sources in an effort to become carbon neutral by 2050, still heavily relies on oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, with OPEC being the country's largest oil supplier.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering paying a visit to OPEC member states Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as former member Qatar in July, reported media outlets.
It is expected that Kishida would discuss achieving stability in oil prices as well as guaranteeing sustained supply of LNG to Japan.
OPEC has been conducting a series of talks to cooperate and coordinate with consumers all over the globe, including its talks with China and the European Union, all aiming to achieve stability in market and benefit both producers and consumers.
Source: Kuwait News Agency