Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - A round-table discussion was held at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) on the topic “Uzbekistan-Japan: new horizons of strategic partnership”, Dunyo reported.

The event was organized by the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations and the UWED.

The round table was attended by experts from the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, and the Uzbekistan-Japan Friendship Society. The Japanese side was represented by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tashkent Yoshinori Fujiyama, Director General of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Takasaka Muneo, Director General of the Japan Foreign Trade Organization (JETRO) Jun Takahashi and co-director of the Japan Center in Uzbekistan Yasuzhiro Suzuki.

The participants of the event discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Uzbek-Japanese relations in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dilshod Akhatov took part in the round table. He noted that Japan for our country has always been and remains among the key and long-term international partners. Relations between countries historically have a particularly warm character and develop in the spirit of traditional friendship, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests. The positions of the two countries on topical issues of regional and international politics coincide or are close.

Uzbekistan and Japan support an active exchange of visits at various levels. This is a proof of mutual interest in the development of integrated cooperation.

- Japan makes an important contribution to the modernization of the economy and industry of Uzbekistan. With the assistance of the Government of Japan, large-scale projects have been implemented in our country for the construction and modernization of thermal power plants, airports, irrigation systems, oil refineries and chemical enterprises,” the deputy head of the republic’s foreign policy department said.

“There are good relations between our countries in politics, economics, culture, security issues and other areas,” said Yoshinori Fujiyama, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan, in an interview with Dunyo. - But we have a special potential in the field of economics and trade. Contacts in the academic field are also very active. For example, now many Uzbeks are trained in Japanese higher institutions, more than 1,700 Uzbeks are studying Japanese in Uzbekistan. And in Japan there is a tendency to increase the number of tourists to your country.

It was also noted at the event that the Uzbek-Japanese center, representative offices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan Foreign Trade Organization and other organizations of the rising sun make their worthy contribution to the further development of bilateral cooperation. Their activities cover such areas as education, language training, cultural exchange and others.

“We are very pleased that we are helping to develop a business atmosphere in Uzbekistan,” said Muneo Takasaka, Director General of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). - Promising joint projects in healthcare, energy, transport and other areas serve to further strengthen our interaction.

The participants of the event noted that, taking into account the positive dynamics in mutual trade between the two countries, the volume of which in 2018 made up US$700 million, the parties have potential opportunities to increase these indicators. In their opinion, the round table was a good opportunity for an open and substantive exchange of views on the further development of Uzbek-Japanese relations.