AKIPRESS.COM - On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev exchanged congratulatory messages. 

"Your official visit to Uzbekistan in October 2015 was the most important event in the history of the Uzbek-Japanese relations and gave even greater dynamism to the further development of our relations in the political, trade-economic, financial-investment, technological, scientific and cultural-humanitarian spheres," Mirziyoyev  recollected in his message. 

"Over the 25 years of cooperation, we were able to create a solid law-based foundation for our relations, the basic element of which is the 2002 Joint Declaration on Friendship, Strategic Partnership and Cooperation. The joint statement, signed during your visit to Uzbekistan, on extending and expanding the strategic partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan took our relationship to a higher level and showed the sides’ deep mutual understanding and firm political will to expand the bilateral ties," Mirziyoyev said.  

"Today Japan is one of our country’s most significant and priority partners in the economic modernization and socio-economic development of the country... I express confidence that on the basis of common values shared by our countries and long-terms interests, the traditional friendly ties between Uzbekistan and Japan will continue to develop in every way possible for the good of the peoples of the two countries," said Mirziyoyev. 

Abe for his part said:

"Since the day your state obtained independence, very friendly relations between Japan and Uzbekistan have been developing.

In October 2015, that is 9 years after the previous visit of Japan’s Prime Minister, I visited Uzbekistan in my capacity as Prime Minister. We had fruitful talks with the late President Islam Karimov. During these talks, we were unanimous in our opinion that there was a need to promote cooperation in various spheres.

I would like to express sincere gratitude to you as the then Prime Minister for constantly accompanying me and giving me a warm welcome during my visit to your country. I would like to note with satisfaction that my visit gave even greater dynamism to the relations between Uzbekistan and Japan and that the agreements which were reached then help to step up large-scale cooperation between our countries.

I am ready to continue making efforts not only to extend the relations in the political and economic spheres but also to strengthen the friendly relations in many areas, including the development of cultural and scientific ties with Uzbekistan.

Making use of the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations, I express sincere hope for the further development of the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan and the extension of the ties of friendship between our peoples.

I also express hope for active cooperation with Your Excellency, including cooperation within the framework of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue.

Let me wish Your Excellency robust health and success in work activities, and wish the people of Uzbekistan happiness."