Japan's trade minister to visit Mideast on energy

TOKYO - Japanese Economic, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this weekend to boost energy cooperation with the oil-rich countries, local media reported Wednesday.

Motegi is expected to hold talks with senior officials in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, and urge the country to continue stabilizing the global oil market, according to Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

Meanwhile, the minister will also show Japan's readiness to help Japanese companies invest in Saudi Arabia and develop of human resources in the country, said Kyodo, citing officials of the ministry.

Motegi will discuss cooperation in investment and education in the UAE and pave the way for renewing Japan's offshore oil concessions in the country.

About 50 percent of Japanese crude oil imports come from the oil-rich region and the Saudi Arabia was the largest crude oil supplier to Japan in 2011.