Turkmen president, Japanese official discuss bilateral cooperation prospects

ASHGABAT. Dec 17 (Interfax) - Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has met with Hiroyuki Tsubai, a member of the Board of Directors, executive vice president of Itochu Corporation, president of the company's Machinery and Equipment Division, and co-chairman of the Turkmen-Japanese Economic Cooperation Committee, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper said on Tuesday.

Tsubai reaffirmed Japanese business circles' interest in operating on the Turkmen market, where a conducive investment climate and all necessary conditions for productive work have been created.

Berdimuhamedov, for his part, said that the next, 15th meeting of the two countries' Economic Cooperation Committee due to take place during Tsubai's ongoing visit to Turkmenistan would give impetus to bilateral economic ties.

Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the comprehensive development of its relations with Japan as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region, he said. Turkmen-Japanese long-term and strategic cooperation has been expanding rapidly and developing on the basis of equality, mutual respect and trust.

The two countries' cooperation has been successful not only in the bilateral format, but also within the Central Asia + Japan dialogue, the parties said. Presently, Turkmenistan and Japan have bilateral relations in political, diplomatic, trade, economic, social, cultural, humanitarian and other issues.

Trade and economic ties are among the priorities of their bilateral partnership, the sides said. For many years, Turkmenistan has been gaining a positive track record of joint work with major Japanese companies in the gas and chemistry sectors, with the two countries' Economic Cooperation Committee playing a key role in these efforts.

As Japan is due to host World EXPO 2025, Turkmenistan has formed a special organizing committee in charge of the country's participation in this global forum and is now conducting necessary preparations, Berdimuhamedov said.