Visit to Turkmenistan by Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

January 18, 2005

Meeting of Leaders
Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Turkmenistan on January 17 and 18. During his stay in Turkmenistan, Mr. Aisawa paid courtesy calls on His Excellency President Saparmurad Niyazov and Deputy Prime Minister Yolly Gurbanmuradov, and had meetings with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. In these meetings, they affirmed that they would make further efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, taking the opportunity of establishment of the Japanese Embassy in Turkmenistan on January 1, and exchanged views on various issues including "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue and the regional situation such as Afghanistan.
Opening Ceremony of the Japanese Embassy in Turkmenistan
In the evening of January 17, Japanese Ambassador to Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation Issei Nomura and Mrs. Nomura hosted a reception in a hotel in Ashgabat, celebrating the establishment of the Japanese Embassy in Turkmenistan. Mr. Aisawa, leaders of the government and business circle of Turkmenistan, the diplomatic corps in Ashgabat, Japanese residents and others attended the ceremony. At the outset of his speech, Mr. Aisawa stated that he expected the establishment of the Japanese Embassy would trigger further development of bilateral relations between the two countries in many areas.
In reply to this remark, the Turkmenistan side also expressed the hope for further development and strengthening bilateral relations, regarding the establishment of the Japanese Embassy as a milestone in the relations between the two countries.

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