Japan will host an international energy forum in Osaka next year to promote dialogue between oil-producing and oil-consuming countries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday.
The eighth forum, scheduled to run from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23, 2002, will be co-hosted with Italy and the United Arab Emirates. A forum in Riyadh in November, which was cohosted by Japan, was attended by representatives of 47 countries, including 27 ministers, and nine international organs, it said.
Japan wanted to host the next convention to make a contribution to the development and stability of the energy market, the ministry said.
Osaka was chosen as the venue due to its accessibility through Kansai International Airport, its quality international conference hall and its experience in hosting large international events such as the 1995 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, it said.