Tokyo, Jumada II 14, 1438, March 13, 2017, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud graced here tonight a dinner banquet held by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. During the banquet, the King delivered a speech, saying, "I am pleased to extend my best thanks to Japan's government and people for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, as well. For his part, the Prime Minister of Japan expressed, on behalf of his government and the Japanese people, their thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on his historic visit to their country. Abe expressed pride of Japan for the deep historical relations of friendship and strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, stressing Japan's keenness to develop and consolidate bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. The dinner was attended by the delegation accompanying the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in his current visit to Japan. -- SPA 19:32 LOCAL TIME 16:32 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w352499