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[Provisional Translation]

On October 26 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Astana in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The following day, October 27 (local time), after attending a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Residence, Prime Minister Abe held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Prime Minister then attended a meeting with a private-sector mission, and held a signing ceremony and a joint press announcement. Afterwards, Prime Minister Abe attended a business forum, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and attended a signing ceremony at the business forum.

In the evening, the Prime Minister gave a policy speech at Nazarbayev University and was conferred an emeritus professorship.

The Prime Minister said in his address at the business forum,

“I am extremely pleased that today’s Japan-Kazakhstan Business Forum is being attended by top members of leading Japanese businesses and organizations, and is being held with such grandeur.

This is the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to Kazakhstan in nine years. President Nazarbayev has personally extended invitations to me on many occasions and I have at last been able to visit Kazakhstan.
Last night, from the window of my airplane, I saw the sprawling Astana cityscape and felt a great sense of pride in the knowledge that the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was involved in the design of this well-ordered city. At Astana International Airport, which was also designed by Mr. Kurokawa, I saw beautiful colors and shapes that are reminiscent of Islamic architecture, and felt that the sensibilities of Japan and Kazakhstan are ever present in daily life here.

Turning to the economy, Kazakhstan is implementing measures to promote industry diversification and vitalize small- and medium-sized enterprises, by attracting foreign investment and introducing new technologies. I believe that Japan can certainly play a role in these economic reforms.

Many Japanese corporations in a wide range of business fields have experience entering overseas markets, and they are contributing throughout the world to the employment and development of local human resources.
I strongly believe that, through their profound knowledge and their contributions locally, Japanese companies can indeed strongly support the economic reforms of Kazakhstan. 

More than 20 Japanese companies in a diverse range of fields are already active in Kazakhstan. In addition, President Shigeo Katsu of Nazarbayev University, who is Japanese, is working with great enthusiasm to foster Kazakhstan’s human resources. 

Japanese people are actively contributing in many different areas in Kazakhstan. Earlier, the President surprised me by kindly offering to show me the Opera House. Three of the ballerinas in the ballet I saw were Japanese. I am delighted and proud that Japanese people are playing such active roles in a wide range of fields here in Kazakhstan.

At the Summit Meeting today, I told President Nazarbayev that the Japanese public and private sectors will work together to support the economic reforms of Kazakhstan. I would like to take this opportunity to once again request the kind support of the President in helping many Japanese people to think of Kazakhstan as their second home and to continue to play active roles here for many years.

In closing, I would like to express my hope for the further development of our bilateral economic relations and exchange, and to wish you all good health. Thank you very much.”