On the occasion of the visit by Islam Abduganievich Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to Japan from 28 to 31 July, 2002, which marks the tenth anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries, Junichiro Koizumi, the Prime Minister of Japan and Islam Abdulganievich Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued the following statement on the future relationship between the two countries.
Considering wide range of issues related to Japanese-Uzbek relationship, both sides confirmed with satisfaction that the ties of friendship and partnership binding Japan and Uzbekistan contribute to deepening cooperation, to ensuring strengthening peace, stability and development in the region and in the world as a whole. In this regard the Uzbek side highly appreciated "the Diplomacy to the Silk Road Region", which the Government of Japan has been promoting.
Both sides expressed their intention to develop their friendly relations and the strategic partnership on the basis of equality, mutual understanding and other universally accepted principles and standards of international law.
Both sides confirmed its willingness to make efforts to keep in the future regular contacts at every level including high level for exchange of views and consultations on important issues of bilateral relations and urgent matters of international politics.
I. Cooperation in the fields of politics and security
- The Japanese side, considering the Republic of Uzbekistan as important partner in Central Asia in formation of reliable regional security system, expressed its intention to support efforts of the Republic of Uzbekistan to strengthen peace and stability in the region.
The Uzbek side expressed its intention to actively work on the further democratization and the transition to market economy in order to achieve political stability.
- Both sides decisively condemn any form or any appearance of terrorism and confirmed that fight against international terrorism must be large-scaled and continuous. Both sides also emphasized their position to support the activities by international community directed at elimination of channels of financing to terrorist activity.
Taking into account the threat of terrorism in the Central Asian region, the Japanese side appreciated the active cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the fight against international terrorism and reaffirmed the importance to improve political and economical situation, which could expel a hotbed of terrorism.
- Both sides pointed out the importance of activation of efforts by international community in the fight against religious extremism, trafficking of illicit drug, smuggling of weapons and other forms of transnational organized crime. Both sides emphasized their intention to support close interaction of law-enforcement-organs and other relevant bodies of both sides in the fight against the above-mentioned threats.
II. Co-operation in the economic field
- Both sides shared the view that one of the most important tasks in bilateral relations is the cooperation in the field of trading, investment, technology and development of ties in the field of education.
- The Uzbek side expressed its readiness to create maximally favorable conditions for Japanese capital to participate in implementing investment projects. The Japanese side stressed importance of the increase of investment to the Republic of Uzbekistan to liberalize economy to a greater extent and improve its conditions for investment.
- The Uzbek side expressed high appreciation and deep gratitude to the Government of Japan and Japanese people that Japanese assistance to economical and social sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been contributed to the development of the country.
The Japanese side confirmed its intention to deliverately consider future possibility of the assistance to reforms of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the human resources development program in wide ranging fields.
- The Uzbek side expressed its interests in gaining knowledge and experience from Japan in the field of information and telecommunication technologies.
- Both sides expressed their intention to fully encourage the cooperation between relevant departments in the fields of transportation of passengers and cargo on the basis of multilateral and bilateral agreements.
In this regard both sides confirmed their willingness to start negotiations to conclude the Agreement on aviation service between two countries.
- Both sides, confirming the importance of reinforcement of energy security in Asian region, considering the results of "Silk Road Energy Mission", confirmed their intention to consider the possibility of cooperation in the field of energy.
III. Cooperation in the social and cultural fields
For the purpose of expansion of friendly relations and deepening of the mutual understanding between both citizens, and of acquaintance with culture and history of each other, both sides confirmed their intention to cooperate as much as possible to establish and develop direct relationship between organizations of culture, sports, tourism and art, including the preservation of cultural heritage. They also confirmed their intention to make joint efforts for expansion of exchange of youth.
IV. Cooperation in the international society
- Both sides have confirmed their interest in the establishment of long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan. In this regard both sides highly appraised the outcome of the International Conference on Restoration Assistance to Afghanistan.
They also welcomed the election by participants of Loya-Jirga of Khamid Karzai as head of transitional government of Afghanistan through the democratic process and expressed their position to actively render to support the peace process in Afghanistan and the building of renewed state, living in peace and harmony with its neighbors and international community.
- Confirming the adherence to the goals and principles of UN Charter, resolutions of Security Council, both sides confirmed their intention to constructively coordinate with each other for the purpose of raising the efficiency of UN activity to reform the structure and to resolve global problems.
The Uzbek side confirmed its support for Japan to be a permanent member of UN Security Council.
- Both sides shared the recognition that observance of international regime of nuclear non-proliferation is one of the most important elements of peace and security in the world as a whole.
The Japanese side highly appraises the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan on creation of nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia and expressed its intention to continue its cooperation for encourage discussions.
The Prime Minister of Japan
Junichiro Koizumi |
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Islam Abduganievich Karimov |
Tokyo, July 29, 2002
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