Uzbek leader continues official visit to Japan


Uzbek Radio
July 29

President Islam Karimov is still in Japan on an official visit.

On Monday he met Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, ways to provide for security in Central Asia, the restoration process in Afghanistan and support for the current reforms in Uzbekistan.

At the end of the meeting, Islam Karimov and Junichiro Koizumi signed joint statements on friendship, strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries, as well as on developing mutual economic cooperation and support for reforms in Uzbekistan.

Under the first document, the parties, based on principles of equality, mutual understanding and the generally accepted principles and norms of international law, express the desire to develop friendly relations and a strategic partnership. The Uzbek side praised the Silk Road diplomacy carried out by Japan, while Japan noted that it regarded Uzbekistan as a significant partner, valued Uzbekistan's efforts in the fight against international terrorism and voiced its all-round support for Uzbekistan's steps towards strengthening peace and stability in the region.

The document sets the further development of relations in trade, investment, technology and education as important tasks of bilateral cooperation. It also notes that both Uzbekistan and Japan benefit from the establishment of a stable peace in Afghanistan and says that Japan supports Uzbekistan's initiative to create a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia.

The second document notes the mutually advantageous nature of cooperation in the field of power generation. It says that it was agreed to strengthen the legal bases for developing trade and economic relations, protecting and encouraging investment, avoiding double taxation and opening new air routes.

Agreements were also signed on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, between the Uzbek Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations with the Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Marubeni and Nishi Iwaya companies, on preferential credit between the Uzbek National Bank for Foreign Economic Activities and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Uzbektourism National Company and the Group of Japanese Tourist Agencies and other tourist organizations. The number of agreements signed between Uzbekistan and Japan has, thus, increased by 14.

It is a unique occurrence that an interstate document has been signed at the residence of the Japanese prime minister.