Today, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted the Special Adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister Akihisa Nagashima.

The parties discussed the ways to advance the Uzbek-Japanese friendship and strategic partnership ties, to build multifaceted cooperation.

Special Adviser Akihisa Nagashima conveyed sincere greetings and a personal message from Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba to the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Akihisa Nagashima emphasized that Japan viewed Uzbekistan as a reliable and long-term strategic partner in ensuring and strengthening free and open international cooperation based on the rule of law.

He noted that the Government of Japan highly valued the dynamic development of bilateral relations in a wide range of areas, including economic and innovative cooperation, cooperation in the energy sector, industry, infrastructure and the social sphere, intensive educational and cultural exchanges, programs in the field of tourism and labor migration, as well as fruitful regional interaction.

In 2024, the two-way trade grew by 35 percent, with the project portfolio with major Japanese companies and banks surpassing US$ 12 billion. About 100 joint ventures and organizations, including the Uzbek-Japanese Center, are successfully operating in Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek leader spoke in favor of continuing active contacts and mutual high-level visits and commended the rich cooperation in the trade, economic, investment and financial-technical areas, including within the framework of the Japanese government Development Assistance Program.

He also wished the Government of Japan a successful holding of the World Expo, which will kick off in April this year in the city of Osaka.