Meeting Held Between the President of Uzbekistan and the Emperor of Japan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 19 December, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev began his official visit to Japan with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo.

The Emperor of Japan warmly welcomed the head of the Uzbek state, noting that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan is of great importance for the further strengthening of Uzbek–Japanese relations of friendship and strategic partnership. In turn, Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed deep respect and gratitude to Emperor Naruhito for his consistent support of the large-scale and irreversible reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan.

During the conversation, it was emphasized that despite the geographical distance, the Uzbek and Japanese peoples are united by spiritual affinity, similarities in mentality, traditions, and family values, as well as centuries-old historical ties dating back to the era of the Great Silk Road.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the steady development of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of education and human resource development, as well as in cultural and humanitarian exchanges. Over the years, more than 3,000 specialists from Uzbekistan have completed training programs in Japan, while over 440 citizens have received higher education through Japanese scholarship programs. Today, the Japanese language is taught at seven higher education institutions in Uzbekistan.

As part of the current visit to Tokyo, the Days of Uzbek Culture were successfully held. In 2026, an archaeological exhibition dedicated to the rich history and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan is planned to be held in several cities across Japan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan invited Emperor Naruhito to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.