President Aliyev's official visit is over

March 10
19:00

On 10 March, Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi gave a banquet in honor of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

In the evening the same day, President of Azerbaijan left for home.

At Tokyo International Airport Haneda, top officials of Japanese government, the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Japan Azer Huseynov and Japan's ambassador in Baku Tadahiro Abe saw off the President of Azerbaijan.

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17:17

On Friday, the last day of the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, three documents were undersigned at the residence of Japanese Primer Junichiro Koizumi. The sides signed a joint declaration, agreement on technical cooperation and cooperation program of the Foreign Ministries after completion of the bilateral Azerbaijani-Japanese negotiations in large.

According to Trend, President Aliyev and Koizumi signed the joint declaration and publicized the joint statement after it.

In accordance with the statement, the positions of Azerbaijan and Japan are similar on some issues. Japan comes out from the position of inviolability of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan supports Japan's permanent membership to UN.

As to the economic development of Azerbaijan, Koizumi stressed that rate of the economic growth of the country exceeded the figures of Japan at least by 10 times.

In his turn, the Head of the State spoke about the plans on the economic development of the country and mentioned that Baku was interested in the closer economic cooperation with Tokyo.
 
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Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev agreed Thursday to foster bilateral ties through cooperation in the development of oil and natural gas exploration in the Central Asian country, Japanese officials said.

In their 30-minute meeting in Tokyo, Aso told Aliyev that Japan has great interest in the importance of Azerbaijan as a supplier of oil and natural gas, while Aliyev expressed hopes that Japanese companies would participate in infrastructure improvements and foster industries in his country, they said, Kyodo News informs.

President Aliyev also visited the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tokyo and got familiar with the activities of the diplomatic representation. The Head of the State gave appropriate instructions to the employees of the Embassy.

The same day the Azerbaijani President gave an interview to HNK TV channel, as well as held negotiations with Toshiuki Fujiwara, the Chief executive of the Japanese Foreign Relations Institute, the representatives of the Japanese Foreign Trade Organization and the management of FSAS, world-known company in information technologies.

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On 8 March in Tokyo, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and the Emperor of Japan Akihito had a one-on-one meeting.

His Majesty Akihito and Empress Michiko warmly greeted President of Azerbaijan and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva.

Highly appraising official visit of the Azerbaijani President to Japan, His Majesty Akihito said development of bilateral relations would be useful for both sides. Touching upon the historical friendly links between two peoples, the Emperor said Japan is deeply interested in strengthening of relations with Azerbaijan. He reminded Heydar Aliyev's visit to Japan in February 1998, shared his impressions of the past meetings.

Expressing gratitude to His Majesty Akihito for hospitality and kind words, President Aliyev said he was pleased with the visit, and spoke of the legal, democratic, secular state building process ongoing in the Republic of Azerbaijan. "The current visit will open a new stage in development of bilateral relations," he emphasized.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan always attaches great importance to mutually beneficial ties with the world countries. From this standpoint, the relations with Japan are of particular impatience, he stressed. "The country is open for businessmen, socio-political stability has been guaranteed, the investments are protected, and any condition for activity in the Republic is available."

Speaking of the works done for joint development of prospects at the Azerbaijan sector on the Caspian, President of Azerbaijan said the Japanese Itochu Oil had greater share in the projects, AzerTAg informs.

During the talk, also were focused the prospects of the Azeri-Japanese cooperation, the situation in region, settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other questions.

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The Azerbaijan-Japan Economic Forum took place at the Imperial hotel, March 8.

At the Forum attended by representatives of 30 Azerbaijani and 100 Japanese companies, speaking was the vice-president of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Yoshitada Takahashi said, "after Azerbaijan gained state independence in 1991 we have established friendly relations with this country and our cooperation is being implemented in versatile fields of economy. JETRO is going to carry out researches connected to economic potential of Azerbaijan, conduct workshops and send its specialists to this country."

In his speech President Aliyev expressed hope that the Forum would benefit mutual ties. Last year, Azerbaijan held the first position in the world for economic development, he underlined. Azerbaijan's cooperation with Japan mainly covers the energy sector in which the Japanese companies have invested much. Now, there appeared opportunities for cooperation and in the on-oil sector. Development of regions now is our priority, President Aliyev said. He stressed the role of Japanese companies in this. President of Azerbaijan expressed wish for Japanese technologies to be involved in Azerbaijan's economy.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev spoke of the concrete programs being realized in the country in agriculture, education and public health, noting that in 2006 the foreign companies had allotted huge credits for realization of these projects. The Japanese companies will be fully guaranteed to inverts in these programs, he said.

Head of the Azerbaijan State said the government of Japan had been rendering long-term technical and other assistance to Azerbaijan and currently there is need to activate this cooperation, AzerTAg informs.

Minister of economic development of Azerbaijan Heydar Babayev gave full information on the socio-economic situation in the country, in particular in the oil-gas sector. There are reliable conditions for investing in Azerbaijan, he underscored, noting that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Japan had increased many times. He invited the Japanese companies to invest in non-oil sector of Republic, too.

As a result of Forum, some companies from each side have signed several million dollars contracts.

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President Ilham Aliyev of the Azerbaijan Republic on 8 March at his residence in Tokyo received the President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ms. Sadako Ogata.

Greeting the Head of the Azerbaijan State, Ms. Sadako Ogata said the visit of Azerbaijan President would be successful and open a new phase in development of cooperation between tow countries. Japan is keen in development of ties in all fields, he emphasized, noting that the Japanese companies had invested in some important projects in Azerbaijan. She also reminded the Japanese credits for expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan, "which is such a country in the Caucasus that any investment in its economy would certainly yield fruits in future and promote dynamic progress".

President Aliyev said his first visit to Japan would strengthen and expand cooperation between two countries. Head of the Azerbaijan State expressed consent with the relations established between JICA and Azerbaijan, noting there are good opportunities and prospects for widening of co-op between countries.

During the talk, also were exchanged views on prospects of cooperation between JICA and Azerbaijan, AzerTAg informs.

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March 8
13:18

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended today a business forum where Azerbaijani and Japanese gathered to discuss mutual opportunities, ANS reports.

Prior to that he met with Mrs. Sadako Ogata, president of the International Cooperation Agency of Japan.

Speaking to the forum Ilham Aliyev said that his nation enjoyed the first place with 26,4% growth last year. He appreciated the role of Japanese companies represented in Azerbaijan adding that they are limited of being oil sector participants.

Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan would like to see Japanese companies be involved in non-oil sector adding that his government would take necessary steps achieve that.

Azerbaijani President also said that, he would initiate state guarantee huge foreign investment.

President Aliyev later met with HM Emperor of Japan Akihito and Queen Ichiko at their residence.

Ilham Aliyev also held meetings at Tokyo International Relations Institute and gave a speech.

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09:30

At Tokyo International Airport Haneda, the President and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva were warmly greeted by high-ranking Japanese officials, as well as Ambassadors Azer Huseynov of Azerbaijan to Japan and Tadahiro Abe of Japan to Azerbaijan, AzerTAg informs.

From the airport, the Azerbaijani leader headed for his temporary residence at hotel Imperial.

Formal part of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Japan will start on March 8.