Welcoming the guest, the head of the state said he highly valued the developing Uzbek-Japanese ties.

"Your visit is a logical development of our cooperation and a good opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral relations," Islam Karimov said.

The Finance minister of Japan said his country was interested in development of relations with Uzbekistan.

The sides considered issues related to expansion of trade-economic and investment cooperation between the two states.

Uzbekistan and Japan signed a Joint statement of friendship, strategic partnership and cooperation in 2002. In 1994, Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek economic cooperation committees were set up, and they conduct regular sessions.

Offices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japanese External Trade Organization function in Tashkent.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Japan invested about USD 2 billion in the economy of Uzbekistan. In particular, the Japanese government issued USD 910 million within the Official development assistance program, and USD 820 million for the development of fuel and energy complex and textile industry through the commercial credits of the Japanese International Bank for Cooperation.

More than 10 large projects with participation of Japanese investments are being implemented in Uzbekistan. One of them is production of Isuzu buses, trucks and cranes at Samarkand automobile plant.

22 large Japanese corporations have representative offices in Uzbekistan, among them are Mitsui, Mitsubisi, Nishe Ivai and others. A number of joint ventures operate in machinery, light industry, internal and foreign trade, transport services and tourism.