Joint Statement on Kazakhstan's Bilateral WTO Accession Negotiations with Japan

June 14, 2005

1. As a result of vigorous consultations during the last two years, Japan and the Republic of Kazakhstan have generally agreed on completion of Kazakhstan's bilateral WTO accession negotiations on both market access in goods and in services. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, and Danial Akhmetov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, have confirmed and welcomed this accomplishment during their talks today in Tokyo. Both heads of the governments also gave an instruction to their experts to finalize the documents on the results of the bilateral negotiations between Japan and Kazakhstan. The meeting took place within the framework of the Prime-Minister Akhmetov's official visit to Japan to participate at the national day of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the EXPO-2005, AICHI.
   
   
2. Both heads of the governments expressed their strong belief that Japan's agreement ahead of many other WTO member-states would facilitate Kazakhstan's early accession to the WTO, which is important for promotion of Kazakhstan's participation in the multilateral trade system and its successful integration into the global economy. Japan's support of Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO demonstrates further enhancement of economic and political relations between two countries as well as Japan's commitment to deepening of its partnership dialogue with Central Asian countries.