Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > March, 2006

Japan-Azerbaijan Summit Meeting Friday, March 10, 2006 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint statement on the further development of the friendship and partnership between Japan and Azerbaijan, following which the leaders held a joint press conference. Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Japanese companies and the economic circle are increasingly interested in Azerbaijan. I have learned in the meeting that Azerbaijan's economic growth ratio is as high as 26 percent, which is more than ten times that of Japan's. Japan hopes that the trade and investment environment in Azerbaijan will further improve to promote its economic development. In the international community, Azerbaijan supports Japan's candidacy for permanent membership in the Security Council of the United Nations (UN). Appreciating these endeavors, we would like to further seek cooperation with Azerbaijan in the reform of the UN. I have also learned about the hardship faced by Azerbaijan due to conflicts with Armenia. Japan hopes for a peaceful settlement of these issues in the years to come." President Aliyev in response expressed his wishes for the further enhancement of the bilateral relations, saying, "We Azerbaijan pay very big importance to the development of our bilateral relations. I am sure that my official visit to Japan will create a new opportunity for the development of relations between our countires. We need good partners; companies with advanced technology, knowledge and expertise. And as we know Japan is a leading country in this area in the world." View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)