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Visit to Japan of His Excellency Emomali Rakhmonov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan

Outline and Evaluation

May 2001

1. Outline of the Visit

From 14 to 18 May, His Excellency Emomali Rakhmonov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan paid a working visit to Japan. During his visit, President Rakhmonov had an audience with His Majesty The Emperor of Japan and met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. President Rakhmonov also delivered a speech at the United Nations University and attended the Consultative Group Meeting for Tajikistan organized by the World Bank, the founding ceremony of the Japan-Tajikistan Association and the Tajikistan Trade and Investment Seminar.

2. Summit Meeting (16 May)

(1) Outline of Prime Minister Koizumi's Remarks

  1. Prime Minister Koizumi is pleased that bilateral relations have developed past the sorrowful incident involving the murder of Civil Affairs Officer of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), Yukata Akino.
  2. Japan is grateful for the utmost efforts of the Government of Tajikistan in the incident involving the abduction of Japanese nationals in Kyrgyz.
  3. Japan, which is developing its Silk Road diplomacy, will continue to support the enhancement of peace in and restoration of Tajikistan.
  4. The fact that Japan proposed hosting the Consultative Group Meeting for Tajikistan and affirmed on that occasion its invitation to President Rakhmonov to visit Japan is an expression of its position toward Tajikistan.

(2) Outline of President Rakhmonov's Remarks

  1. President Rakhmonov stressed that this was the first ever visit to Japan by a President of Tajikistan and that it would provide an opportunity for the new development of bilateral relations in the future.
  2. Civil Affairs Officer of UNMOT, Akino must not be forgotten in establishing Tajikistan's present day peace.
  3. President Rakhmonov repeatedly noted his appreciation for Japan's assistance so far, including the hosting of the Consultative Group Meeting for Tajikistan.
  4. President Rakhmonov hoped to develop reciprocal economic relations with Japan now that peace has been established in Tajikistan.
  5. The Afghanistan issue has already moved beyond the limits of a regional issue and is becoming an issue of global proportions. Tajikistan is counting on Japan's role toward resolving the Afghanistan issue.

(3) Signing of the Joint Statement on Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Tajikistan

After their meeting, the two leaders signed the Joint Statement on Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Tajikistan, which touches on developing cooperative relations between the two countries, among other things.

3. Results of the Visit

(1) Groundbreaking Turning Point for the Development of Bilateral Relations

This was the first visit to Japan by a head of state from Tajikistan. Japan is so far making considerable progress in its relations with the principal countries in central Asia, such as the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, including visits to Japan by their presidents. However, the building of bilateral relations with Tajikistan, including visits by government officials, has been considerably delayed due in part to the continuation of civil war immediately following its independence.

From this perspective, this visit provided an important opportunity for the future transition of bilateral relations into a qualitatively new stage of development.

(2) Expansion of Assistance to Tajikistan

At the Consultative Group Meeting for Tajikistan organized by the World Bank and held at the same time as this visit, Japan recognized Tajikistan's geopolitical importance and the importance of its peace, stated that it would extend assistance to Tajikistan amounting to 2.5 billion yen, and was able to convey its position not only to Tajikistan, but also donor countries regarding the assistance it has so far extended to Tajikistan.

The Government of Tajikistan evaluates these points extremely highly, which is distinctly significant in terms of developing bilateral relations.

(3) Arousing Interest in the Private Sector

The Japan-Tajikistan Association, a voluntary private sector organization chaired by former Japanese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Koji Watanabe, was established to coincide with President Rakhmonov's visit to Japan, and it is hoped that exchange in the private sector will develop in the future.

Furthermore, President Rakhmonov was able to enhance the interest in Tajikistan, about which very little is known in Japan, of researchers and those concerned with economics through his working breakfast with economic groups, the speech in the United Nations University, the trade and investment seminar and other events.

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