Japan: Industry Minister to Attend Oil Meeting in Saudi Arabia

Text of report in English by Japan’s largest news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, June 13 Kyodo – Japanese industry minister Akira Amari said Friday he will take part in an urgent international oil meeting in Saudi Arabia later this month to discuss how to deal with record- high crude oil prices.

“I definitely have to go,” Amari said at a regular news conference at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, adding that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has also been invited to the June 22 meeting.

Amari said whether Fukuda can attend the meeting is still unclear as the premier has many important domestic issues to attend to at that time.

The prime minister’s office “is studying” the possibility, Amari said.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia, the largest oil supplier to Japan, said it would organize the meeting of major oil-producing countries and industrialized countries in the Saudi city of Jedda.

High-ranking representatives from major oil producers, economic powers and international organizations have already indicated they intend to participate, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and International Energy Agency chief Nobuo Tanaka.

Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0302 13 Jun 08.

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