On April 21 this year Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov met with Vice-President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and the head of the interparliamentary Friendship League "Uzbekistan - Japan" Taro Aso in Tokyo.

In 2008-2009 Taro Aso served as Prime Minister of Japan, and was also President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. From 2012 to 2021, he was Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Finance of Japan.

During the meeting, the current agenda of the multifaceted partnership between the two countries as well as the prospects for its expansion was discussed. Stable trends in the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, investment, trade, economic, financial and technical areas were noted.

Mutual interest was expressed in joint work to deepen the mutually beneficial partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan in priority areas. The significant potential for the development of cooperation in the fields of energy, healthcare, transport infrastructure as well as information and communication technologies was emphasized.

Mechanisms were developed for further cooperation to attract large Japanese companies and financial organizations to expand their activities and implement new projects in Uzbekistan.

Measures were identified to strengthen inter-parliamentary ties and intensify contacts between the legislative bodies of the two countries. In this context, the role of the Japan–Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship League, established in 2004 under the leadership of Taro Aso, was noted. The parties reviewed the agenda of the next meeting of the Japan–Uzbekistan interparliamentary forum, which is scheduled for the second half of this year, and highlighted the most important issues for bilateral discussion. The prospects of organizing a visit of a delegation of representatives of the parliament and business circles of Japan to Uzbekistan for a substantive discussion of further deepening of cooperation were also studied.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their mutual commitment to the development of dialogue in all areas considered and maintenance of a high level of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan.

For reference: Taro Aso is a Japanese state and political figure. He has been elected to Parliament nine times since 1979. Since 1988, he has worked in the Government — held the positions of Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Minister of Economic Planning, State Minister of Economic and Financial Policy, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. From 2005 to 2007 he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.