Japanese Foreign Minister pays tribute at Islam Karimov’s mausoleum

The Japanese foreign minister, Takeshi Iwaya, accompanied by his spouse, visited the city of Samarkand yesterday, August 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan reported.

At a luncheon, the Japanese minister held a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bobur Usmonov and Deputy Governor of Samarkand region Rustam Qobilov. During the talks, the parties exchanged views on establishing regional cooperation between Samarkand and Japan in the fields of economy, culture, and tourism.

Afterwards, Minister Takeshi Iwaya laid flowers at the mausoleum of Uzbekistan’s First President, Islam Karimov, who made three visits to Japan and contributed significantly to the development of relations between the two countries, thereby paying his respects.

In addition, Minister Iwaya visited the Samarkand automobile plant, where Japanese-brand vehicles are produced with the investment of Japanese companies ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED and ITOCHU Corporation, as well as an apple orchard established with the support of the JICA cooperation program “Improvement and dissemination of apple cultivation technology.” Through this program, Japanese techniques for apple cultivation were introduced in Uzbekistan, which enhanced efficiency, increased yields and quality, and contributed to improving the living standards of farmers.

Today, August 27, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan arrived in Tashkent. Together with his spouse, he visited the Yakkasaray Japanese cemetery in the capital and laid flowers. Later, they toured the memorial exhibition museum that reflects the presence of Japanese citizens in Uzbekistan during the 1940s. Deputy Director Risolat Sultanova explained the warm relations that existed between Japanese prisoners of war and Uzbeks at that time, while the Minister examined historical items and materials from the period.

Takeshi Iwaya also held a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov.

It is worth noting that Takeshi Iwaya visited Kazakhstan on August 25, where he held meetings with the country’s leadership.