Saudi king seeks help on diversifying economy

TOKYO - King Salman and hundreds of business leaders from Saudi Arabia are in Japan for talks on Monday mainly focused on economic relations.

The visit is the first by a Saudi king in 46 years, though Salman visited more recently as crown prince.

Saudi Arabia is one of Japan's biggest suppliers of crude oil, accounting for about a third of its total imports of oil from the Middle East.

The kingdom is striving to diversify its economy away from its heavy reliance on oil exports, and Salman is on a monthlong tour of Asia to advance his kingdom's economic and business interests.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that Japan is willing to provide support for the economic power in the Middle East.

"We will discuss growth strategy, including our 'Saudi Vision' project," he said, referring to Japanese collaboration with Vision 2030, a roadmap adopted by the kingdom last year for its development and economic objectives

He did not confirm reports that the countries would agree to set up a special economic zone in Saudi Arabia.

Salman met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday. During the meeting, Abe asked the king to support the listing of Saudi state oil giant Aramco shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, a Japanese senior official said.

King Salman said the kingdom would look into the request because he wants Japanese investors to buy Aramco shares, the official added.

Separately, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and Japanese telecoms provider and energy company Softbank have joined forces in setting up a $25 billion private fund for technology investments.

Trade between the countries fell overall last year as oil prices dropped. Japan's $18.6 billion in imports from Saudi Arabia in 2016, mostly oil and gas, dwarfed its exports of $4.8 billion.

The delegation arrived on Sunday on about 10 aircraft. Officials said top hotels and car hire services would be busy handling the unusually large group during its four-day visit.

King Salman has finished visits to Indonesia and Malaysia. He was due to travel on to Brunei, China and the Maldives.

While seeking investment and help with Saudi industrialization and development of its services sector, Salman has also offered help. Earlier, he pledged $1 billion in development finance for Indonesia and closer cooperation for combating transnational crime such as human trafficking, terrorism and the drugs trade.