OREANDA-NEWS. November 30, 2010. The ninth joint meeting of the Turkmen-Japanese and the Japanese-Turkmen Committees for economic cooperation took place in the Turkmen capital. The high-level delegation led by Fumitaka Fujita, Co-Chairman of the Committee, Special Advisor of the Itochu Corporation and Yutaka Banno, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs had arrived to Turkmenistan to participate in the meeting.

The meeting held in the conference hall of the Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat focused on the results of the work done since the eighth meeting of the Committees, which had taken place in Tokyo last December.

Exchanging views on the prospects and priorities of the fruitful intergovernmental dialogue, the meeting participants noted that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s official visit to Japan last December had filled Turkmen-Japanese partnership with a qualitatively new content and resulted in reaching important agreements.

Focusing on the dynamic progress in business partnership between the two countries, the participants noted that this dialogue was successfully developed in a wide spectrum of fields, including such a traditional one as delivery of Japanese equipment, which was effectively operated under local climatic conditions of Turkmenistan. The illustrative examples of this cooperation included the recent Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan on the procurement of a large consignment of road construction equipment by the Itochu Corporation, the official representative of Komatsu (Japan) in Turkmenistan, for the oil and gas sector of Turkmenistan.

Underscoring with satisfaction the mutual willingness to build up cooperation increasing, the members of the delegations considered the possibilities for implementing joint investment projects in the oil and gas, chemical, fishing, communication, transport and textile industries and the banking sector.

Noting that at the present stage bilateral trade had the profound potential for expansion, the meeting participants underscored the need to promote bilateral trade and economic contacts. In this regard the partners discussed the aspects of holding economic and trade fairs, exhibitions and forums on a regular basis that would facilitate collaboration in this field.

Underscoring an existing intense interest in establishing full cooperation with Turkmenistan, which had the reputation of being a very promising and dependable partner, the Japanese guests discussed with Turkmen counterparts the possibility of involving the financial and banking system of Japan in expanding economic cooperation with Turkmenistan.

Particular attention was paid to the need to intensify cooperation in personnel training. Given that Japan ranked among the world’s leaders in advanced technology, the mutual interest in conducting seminars for Turkmen specialists to exchange experiences in the high technology, nanotechnology, economy and production sectors was expressed. The Committee members exchanged views and information on statutory acts in the sphere of law and economic analysis.

The participants underscored the significant role of the Committees in deepening and widely expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Upon concluding the meeting the Protocol reflecting the decisions and agreements reached during the meeting was signed.

During the visit to the Turkmen capital Yutaka Banno, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.