Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates.

He arrived in the UAE Monday morning on the second leg of his Middle East tour.

Kishida and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are expected to draw up a joint declaration.

Kishida will likely call for a continued stable supply of oil from the Emirates as Japan relies on them for nearly 40 percent of its crude imports.

The UAE has been promoting wider use of next-generation energy sources. It holds the presidency of the UN climate change conference known as COP 28, which opens in late November.

Taking these matters into account, the two leaders will work on a joint declaration that includes cooperation for decarbonization.

Kishida also aims to support the UAE's industrial diversification with Japan's advanced technology in such fields as space, artificial intelligence and health care.

He is also expected to seek closer diplomatic and security relations with the UAE, which, like Japan, is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The two countries signed an agreement concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology earlier this year.