Doha /Information Office/ 21 February 2015/ HE Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah said Saturday that bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and Japan were strategic. In an interview with Qatar TV, His Excellency said that diplomatic relations with Japan began in 1972 and never looked back since then. HE the Foreign Minister noted that the meeting held between HH the Emir and Emperor of Japan Akihito as well as the meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw the two leaderships agree in their views regarding regional developments. His Excellency added that Japan was one of the biggest importers of energy from Qatar, in addition to strong ties in other investment and economic fields such as health and technology. Responding to a question on how Qatar and Japan saw developments in the region, His Excellency said that both administrations had almost identical views on how to deal with foreign crises. Both countries, His Excellency added, have the ability to move swiftly to resolve any conflicts before they get out of hand. HE Al Attiyah then moved on to stress on the importance of renouncing violence in resolving crises. His Excellency then mentioned an example where the State of Qatar worked diligently to reach a political resolution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people. On the agreements signed with Japan, HE the Foreign Minister said that the two countries signed a host of agreements in fields such as health, technology, education as well as defense. The two countries also signed agreements to develop the railway and subway systems in the State of Qatar, His Excellency added. On the Qatar Friendship Fund, dedicated to funding project to help the Japanese people, HE the Foreign Minister said that the fund was established under the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to help the people in the East of Japan in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2011. The fund has established 11 projects on Japan's eastern coast, with four left go. In response to a question on investment and economic cooperation between Japan and Qatar, His Excellency said that said that the two countries have a number of joint investment projects in Japan that are strategic in nature. HE the Foreign Minister also noted that there were more than 20 companies that is a 100% owned by Japanese capital operating in Qatar today. There were another 30 that is jointly owned by Japanese and Qatari capital. On how to benefit from Japanese expertise to aid Qatar's hosting of the World Cup 2022, HE Al Attiyah said Qatar looks beyond the World Cup and focuses on Qatar National Vision 2030. On HH the Emir's upcoming visit to Washington, HE the Foreign Minister stressed that bilateral relations between the United States and Qatar were strategic in nature. His Excellency highlighted Qatar's strong ties with the US in all fields whether in education, defense, health and investment. HE Al Attiyah added that the visit of HH the Emir will reflect the strength of bilateral ties.