As Japan and the UAE are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the new Japanese envoy in Abu Dhabi is looking for new frontiers in the ties.

"It is an important milestone that enables us to explore new frontiers in bilateral cooperation based on solid foundation of the past 50 years of relations," Akio Isomata, the Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an exclusive interview.

Priorities as envoy Isomata, who took charge as the ambassador in late November, elaborated on his priorities. "One of the objectives I would like to pursue is an official launching of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative [CSPI] between the 2 countries. Under the umbrella of the CSPI, we will enter a new phase to expand and deepen the political, economic and cultural relations." Japan and the UAE had announced their commitment to draft a joint cooperation strategy and vision, under the framework of the CSPI, in a joint statement issued in Abu Dhabi on 30th April, 2018, after a meeting between the then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during Abe’s official visit to the UAE. The envoy said, "My 2nd ambition is to diversify the economic relations into a variety of new areas of cooperation." New domains in economic relations about such new areas, he cited the recent collaboration in aerospace projects such as the UAE’s Hope Probe - launched in Japan by a Japanese rocket - and the moon exploration project, supported by a Japanese company. Cooperation in healthcare and food security can be further explored, he added.

The 2 countries have a longstanding cooperation in the field of oil exploration, production and trade, the ambassador pointed out. "More than 30 percent of the imported crude oil of Japan is from the UAE. Major export items from Japan to the UAE are automobiles and machineries in which Japan boasts strong competitive advantage." In recent years, the ties have been expanding to new areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, outer space, defence industries, agriculture and food, medical and healthcare, retail business, tourism, content and creative industries and sports, he explained.