Uzbekistan and Japan to jointly implement projects worth over $8 bln - President Karimov
TASHKENT. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan and Japan reached agreements during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Tashkent to implement joint investment agreements worth over $8 billion, of which Japan will contribute $5 billion, Uzbek President Islam Karimov has said.
These projects will focus on modernizing energy and transport infrastructure, mineral resources exploration and extraction, auto manufacturing, telecommunications, the oil and gas sector, as well as the chemical industry, he said.
"Japan is a time-tested and reliable partner for Uzbekistan," Karimov said after talks with Abe in Tashkent on Sunday.
Uzbekistan highly appreciates Japan's contribution to major investment projects, as well as its considerable technical and humanitarian support, he said.
The Uzbek leader also named the largest projects that have been implemented with the help of the country's Japanese partners in recent years.
Abe, for his part, called Uzbekistan a friendly country, which has been playing a key role in maintaining Central Asia's stability.
Abe also said that representatives of Japanese private businesses who are accompanying him during this trip are studying projects aimed at mutually beneficial cooperation with great interest.
The two countries' contacts in education and healthcare have been successful as well, the Japanese prime minister said.
Abe is in Uzbekistan on an October 24-26 official visit at President Karimov's invitation.
