Abu Dhabi: General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday  received Taka-yoshi Taniguchi, Japan's Senior Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Shaikh Mohammad and the Japanese official discussed ways of widening the scope of cooperation between the UAE and Japan, particularly in the areas of gas and petrochemicals.

They also exchanged views on a number of communications projects being implemented by Japan in the UAE and the region.

"Japan and the UAE have had long standing relations spanning back to more than 30 years. We look forward to more Japanese presence in Abu Dhabi, especially in the industrialised economic zones which could be of great advantage to Japanese automobile and electronic companies," said Shaikh Mohammad.

Taniguchi stressed his country's keenness to bolster the ties with the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular.