Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi visited the four countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyz in the Central Asia from August 26 to 31. She attended the first foreign ministerial conference of "Central Asia plus Japan" held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan on August 28. According to analysts here, Yoriko Kawaguchi's visit to the Central Asia is aimed at consolidating and strengthening the bilateral relations between Japan and the Central Asian countries and will further boost Japanese influence over the region.

During the visit, Yoriko Kawaguchi held talks with the four presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyz. The talks mainly focused on the issues of bilateral relations, regional cooperation and Afghanistan situation and a series of documents have been signed.

The first leg of her visit is Uzbekistan. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said to Yoriko Kawaguchi, Uzbekistan has always given priority to developing cooperative relations with Japan and highly praised the efforts made by Japan in enhancing the economic development and security in the Central Asia. He pointed out that Uzbekistan and Japan has an identical stand on a series of international issues; especially the two countries have firmly supported international anti-terrorism actions and taken active part in the reconstruction work of Afghanistan after the anti-terrorism war. The foreign ministers of the two countries signed a low-interest loan agreement, in which Japan will offer US$150 million loan for the railway construction project in Uzbekistan.

In his interview with Yoriko Kawaguchi, the first Japanese foreign minister's visit to Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that there exists a smooth development for the relations between Japan and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan hopes Japanese government will increase its investment in Kazakhstan and build close trade relations between the two countries. He also expressed the hope that Japan will join in the process of Central Asian integration so as to "boost more interregional cooperation". Yoriko Kawaguchi and Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev signed a series of inter-governmental documents including technical cooperation.

Furthermore, the Japanese foreign minister also signed with Tajikistan Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov an inter-governmental agreement, in which Japan will give US$450,000 assistance to Tajikistan in cultural areas; Japan will sign with Kyrgyz an inter-governmental letter of intent on technical co-operation between the two countries in September this year. Japan and Kyrgyz will also sign a document, in which Japan will provide Kyrgyz with US$250,000 assistance for five Kyrgyz projects. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi attended the 13th anniversary celebrations of Kyrgyzstan Independence Day held on August 31.

On August 28, sponsored by Japan, the foreign ministerial conference of "Central Asia plus Japan" was held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. In addition to Yoriko Kawaguchi who was paying a visit to Central Asia, the four foreign ministers of Central Asian cooperative organization and the new member of the organization, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Razov, attended the conference. When concluding the conference, Yoriko Kawaguchi and the four foreign ministers of the organization signed a joint declaration. The declaration pointed out all the participants unanimously expressed the hope that they will continue the dialogue and develop the cooperative relations in all spheres between Japan and the Central Asian countries. At this conference, Yoriko Kawaguchi invited all leaders of Central Asian countries to attend the head-of-state conference of "Central Asia plus Japan" to be held in 2005. She expressed the hope that Japanese government sincerely hopes all the leaders of the Central Asia countries will take into heart the suggestion.

Yoriko Kawaguchi said at a press conference that Japan would offer Central Asian countries with aids including financial support so that the inland countries in the Central Asia would realize their "hope to get a seaport." Therefore, the Japanese government suggests the Central Asian countries speed up the construction of the regional railway network and lay a railway line crossing Afghanistan. She said Japanese assistance plan has been under operation. The low-interest loan offered to Uzbekistan will be used for the construction of a 200-kilometre railway line within its border. The railway line will be connected with Afghanistan's railway network. Finally the line will enter into the south of Afghanistan and reach the nearest port in the Central Asia via Palestine. In addition, Japan will enroll 1,000 students from Central Asian countries within three years.

It is learned from media here that the expected results have been achieved for Japanese foreign minister's visit to Central Asia, which will promote the mutual understanding and trust between Japan and Central Asian countries. Just as what Yoriko Kawaguchi has said the relations between Japan and Central Asian countries will "enter a new stage" from now on.

By People's Daily Online