DUSHANBE, May 23, Asia-Plus — On Wednesday May 23, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met with Japanese Ambassador to Tajikistan Yuichi Kusumoto (with residence in Tashkent).
According to Tajik MFA, visit of Japanese to Tajikistan is timed to coincide with commencement of construction of 27.4-kilometer automotive road Dusti-Panji Poyon funded by Japan. The Government of Japan provides a $5 million grant for implementation of this strategically important project. The road is planned to be finished in 2009.
In the course of the talks the two considered state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan in various spheres. Zarifi and Kusumoto also exchanged views on regional issues.
Zarifi noted that Tajikistan attaches important significance to expansion of its cooperation with Japan, noting that Japan has made considerable contribution to socioeconomic development of Tajikistan over the past 15 years.
For his part, Japanese diplomat highly appraised Tajikistan’s foreign policy directed towards keeping equal relations with all countries, according to Tajik MFA. Kusumoto was quoted as saying that at present Japan is studying the possibility of attracting Japanese investments in Tajikistan’s economy through launching joint ventures.
During the meeting it was also noted that Tajik government seeks participation of Japanese specialists in establishment of free economic zones in Tajikistan.
