Saudi CP meets Japanese emperor in Tokyo

Agha Riaz, Staff Reporter

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman attended the G20 summit between June 28-29 in Osaka, where world leaders met to discuss international issues.

According to the SPA state news agency, Saudi Crown Prince also visited the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. Japanese Emperor Naruhito welcomed him at the palace on Tuesday.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrived in Osaka on June 27 from South Korea.

He also visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on Sunday, which was established in 1955 to commemorate the atomic bomb attack of World War II.

Mohammed Bin Salman is welcomed by Japan;s Emperor Naruhito upon his arrival at the Togu Palace in Tokyo. Issei Kato/Reuters

Mohammed Bin Salman, colloquially known as MBS, is currently serving as the country's deputy prime minister and is also chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and minister of defence — the world's youngest at the time of his appointment.

He has led several successful reforms, which include regulations restricting the powers of the religious police, and the removal of the ban on female drivers.

Other cultural developments under his reign include the first Saudi public concert by a female singer, the first Saudi sports stadium to admit women, an increased presence of women in the workforce, and opening the country to international tourists by introducing an e-visa which can now easily be issued to foreigners to attend events and festivals.

His Vision 2030 programme aims to diversify the Saudi economy through investment in non-oil sectors including technology and tourism. In 2016, he announced plans to list the shares of the state oil company Saudi Aramco.