Trade chief Takashi Fukaya refused a request Friday from Riyadh to have Japan build a mining railway in Saudi Arabia as a primary condition for renewing Arabian Oil Co.'s drilling rights in the Khafji oil field.
Speaking to reporters shortly before embarking on a 10-day trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia later in the morning, Fukaya said he'll do his "utmost to draw a sound response" from Riyadh in the final stage of the stalled negotiations, which will take place late next week.
Fukaya said he will hand to his Saudi Arabian counterparts a letter from Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, which states Tokyo's determination to further boost Japan-Saudi cooperative relations.
The 30-year concession rights of Tokyo-based Arabian Oil Co. are due to expire at the end of next month.