Japan, OPEC to Start Talks Between High-Level Officials

Japan and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have agreed to initiate talks between senior officials, Nikkei, the world's largest financial newspaper, reported on Wednesday, as the world's fourth largest oil importer looks to beef up energy security.
Japan's parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs, Kei Takagi, met with OPEC Secretary-General Haitham al-Ghais at the oil body's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, where they discussed the global energy supply and demand outlook and agreed to create a permanent line of communications, Marketscreener.com reported.
Energy-poor Japan is actively adding renewable resources to its consumption mix as it aims to become carbon neutral by 2050, but it remains highly dependent on oil and liquefied natural gas imports. OPEC producers are Japan's biggest oil suppliers.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering visiting OPEC members Saudi Arabia and the UAE in July and may also visit Qatar, Jiji news agency reported separately on Tuesday, citing sources.
According to Jiji's sources, Kishida is expected to discuss ways of stabilizing crude oil prices and ensuring stable LNG supplies to Japan.