OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2011. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Government of Japan during 8-10 February and held a summit meeting with Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister of Japan.

The President met with Emperor of Japan Akihito, chairmen of upper and lower chambers of the Japanese parliament T. Nishioka and T. Yokomichi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara, heads and members of Parliamentarian cooperation leagues DPJ-Uzbekistan and LDPJ-Uzbekistan.

The sides discussed current state and perspectives of development of relations between Uzbekistan and Japan. Sides stressed that bilateral cooperation has been dynamically developing after the declaration of Uzbekistan's independence in 1991 on the basis of the principles of equal rights, constructive cooperation and respect of mutual interests. The first official visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in May 1994 laid stable foundation for long term multilateral relations.

Sides recognized that the strategic partnership of Uzbekistan and Japan has steadily expanded based on the Joint Statement on Friendship, Strategic partnership and Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Uzbekistan dated as of 29 July 2002. The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in August 2006 continued the political dialogue.

Within the framework of 43rd Annual Meeting of the Council of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in May 2010, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the head of Japanese delegation, present Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan.

Uzbekistan and Japan established constructive dialogue within the framework of international institutions and organizations, UzA reports. Uzbekistan supports Japan's candidacy to the board of permanent members of UNSC. In its turn Japan supported Uzbekistan's initiative in creation of zone free from nuclear weapons in Central Asia.

Both sides confirmed that the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue is a valuable framework contributing to the promotion of cooperation between Japan and Central Asian countries and cooperation within the Central Asian region. Trade-economic and investment spheres are important directions of Uzbek-Japanese strategic partnership.