"Uzbekistan regards the visit of the Japanese foreign minister as a matter of great importance. We see the visit of Mrs. Yoriko Kawaguci as an important landmark in relations of our countries", noted Uzbekistan's deputy foreign minister Ilkh Nematov. According to him, Uzbekistan is interested in further development of the political dialog with Japan on topical issues of the bilateral relations and international policy.
In its turn, Japan points out its interest in independent development and social and political stability of the Central Asian countries and gives Uzbekistan a key role in the region. Tokyo appreciates and supports the process of democratic and economic reforms in Uzbekistan and renders financial assistance to their implementation, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry pointed out.
According to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, the negotiations of the Uzbek and Japanese Foreign Ministers will result in signing two documents being the exchange notes on the Japanese government's allocating a preferential credit to Uzbekistan for construction of a new railway line Tazhguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan in the amount of US$150 million under annual 0.4% for 40 years and exchange notes on the sides' implementation of constitutional procedures necessary to confirm the Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan on Air Traffic, signed in Tokyo on December 22, 2003.
On Thursday the Japanese foreign minister will meet representatives of the public and Tashkent's diplomatic corps at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, which gave Yoriko Kawaguci the title of "Honorary Professor of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy". At the university the Japanese foreign minister will deliver a speech "On Japan's policy in the Central Asia".
Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov is expected to meet Mrs. Kawaguci late on Thursday.
The Japanese foreign minister's visit to Uzbekistan will see exchange of opinions on a wide range of issues of strengthening political, economic and humanitarian relations, regional security and prospects of the two countries' further cooperation.
The total amount of funds invested by Japan in the Uzbek economy over the recent years exceeded $1.8 billion.
On Friday, Japan's foreign minister will head from Tashkent to Astana.
