Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 October, a ceremony was held in the city of Samarkand to create sister cities between Samarkand, which was a strategic point of the Great Silk Road, and the city of Nara, which was the eastern terminus of the Great Silk Road. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abduhakimov, Khokim of Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov and Khokim of the city of Samarkand Fazliddin Umarov took part in this joyful ceremony from the Uzbek side. From the Japanese side, the ceremony was attended by the mayor of the city of Nakagawa Gen, chairman of the parliament of the city of Nara Kita Yoshiaki and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan Fujiyama Yoshinori. After each of them made a congratulatory speech, a signing ceremony took place between the mayor of Nakagawa and khokim Umarov.

This is the first time that twin cities have been established between the two countries, making it a fitting occasion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

This ceremony is expected to mark the beginning of a new history of exchange between the two cities, which have maintained ties since ancient times, and will further promote humanitarian and cultural exchange between the two cities, as well as lead to further promotion of relations between the two countries.