The official visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to Turkmenistan

On October 22-24, 2015, the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe visited Turkmenistan on the first official visit.

On October 23 in the morning, the honorary guest proceeded to the palace complex "Oguzkhan" from the residence assigned to him. The motorcade of Japanese Prime Minister was accompanied by an honorary horse escort.

 Before the main entrance of the palace complex "Oguzkhan" the head of the Japanese government was welcomed by the Turkmen leader. After the official welcoming ceremony, the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of Japan held talks in “one-to-one” format.

 Then the talks continued in an extended format with the participation of official delegations of the two countries.

As noted at the talks, the two countries share common principles and approaches to a number of fundamental problems in modern international politics. First and foremost, this concerns the strengthening of stability and security in Central Asia, in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. Turkmenistan and Japan pay much attention to the problems of disarmament, speaking for the observance of internationally recognized standards and regulations related to ensuring nuclear non-proliferation regime.

After the talks, it was signed ten bilateral agreements. Among them: a Joint Statement on deepening cooperation between Turkmenistan and Japan, the Agreement on academic exchange and cooperation between the International University for the Humanities and Development of Turkmenistan and the Tokyo University of Foreign Languages; Memorandum of Understanding between the State Bank for Foreign Economic Activities of Turkmenistan and the Agency for Export and Investment Insurance of Japan (NEXI); Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Organization «Medical Excellence Japan» (MEJ); Memorandum of Cooperation on the feasibility of the transport system between the Turkmen Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Memorandum of cooperation in the sphere of education and science between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; Memorandum on scientific cooperation in the study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments of Turkmenistan between the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the Miho Museum in Japan.

 Government of Turkmenistan and Japan adopted the Memorandum on mutual cooperation in the field of prevention of natural disasters. In addition, the sides adopted document confirming the exchange of verbal notes between Turkmenistan and Japan on the mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and official holders of diplomatic and service passports. The parties also signed Grant Contract between the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan for a professional workshop for disabled children with the construction of a greenhouse in a specialized school in the city of Turkmenabat.

At the end of the talks the President of Turkmenistan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an address to the media representatives.

Then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Ahalteke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, situated in the foothills of the Kopet Dagh Mountains. Head of the Government of Japan examined with great interest the major horse-breeding center, where all the conditions for keeping, breeding and sports training of the "heavenly horses", training new generations of craftsmen and riders had been created. In memory of his visit to the equestrian complex high guest and his wife were photographed next to one of the finest representatives of the Akhal-Teke horse.

From the Ahalteke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan President and the Prime Minister of Japan proceeded to the capital's hotel "Yildiz", where they met with Japanese businessmen.

The large banquet hall of the hotel "Yildiz" brought together members of the Turkmen government, heads of the ministries and departments of the two countries, representatives of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and leading Japanese companies, foreign and domestic media.

Speaking at the forum, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the attractiveness of the Turkmen market largely determines the policy of neutrality, political stability in the country and a modern legal system. Among the priority areas of partnership, the Turkmen leader named the health, agriculture, energy, tourism, communications, telecommunications, computer science, offering Japanese partners to take part in the modernization of these areas, equipping them with modern equipment, introduction of new management techniques and solutions.

Then the Prime Minister of Japan made a speech. He said he was honored to start a tour of Central Asia is with Turkmenistan. Praising the high-level talks, which resulted in the signing of bilateral documents, aimed at the implementation of joint projects worth a total of $ 18 billion, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his gratitude to all participants of the business forum for fruitful work.

Then there was the ceremony of signing bilateral documents. In the presence of the President of Turkmenistan and Prime Minister of Japan the sides signed: Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern "Turkmengaz" and a consortium of companies «JGC Corporation» (Tokyo, Japan), «Itochu Corporation» (Tokyo, Japan), «Gap Inşaat Yatirim ve Diş Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Istanbul, Turkey) on the project for the production of linear low density polyethylene from ethylene in Dashoguz; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan, the State Concern "Turkmengaz" and the Japanese National Corporation of Oil, Gas and Metals (JOGMEC) of Japan-GTL project in Turkmenistan; The framework agreement between the State Concern "Turkmengaz" and a consortium of companies «Mitsubishi Corporation» (Japan), and «Gap Inşaat Yatirim ve Diş Ticaret Anonim Şirketi» (Turkey) on the construction of Turkmenistan gas processing plant in polymers; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Water Resources of Turkmenistan and the corporation «Marubeni» (Japan); Agreement on cooperation between the State Bank for Foreign Economic Activities of Turkmenistan (TFEB) and the bank «Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation» (SMBC); The framework agreement between the State Concern "Turkmenhimiya" and the group of companies «Mitsubishi Corporation» (Japan), and «Gap Inşaat Yatirim ve Diş Ticaret Anonim Şirketi» (Turkey) on cooperation in the projects implemented by the State Concern "Turkmenhimiya" in the chemical industry; The framework agreement between the State Concern "Turkmenhimiya" and the group of companies «Sojitz Corporation» (Japan), «TTCL Public Company Limited» (Thailand) and «Rönesans Endüstri Tesisleri Inşaat Sanayi ýe Ticaret Anonim Şirketi» (Turkey) for the design and construction of full readiness to the operation of the complex for the production of concentrated phosphate fertilizers in the Turkmenabat chemical plant in Turkmenistan; The contract between the National Grid Corporation of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan and the corporation «Sumitomo» for the design and construction with the landscaping of the adjacent territory of a simple cycle gas turbine power plants with total capacity of 432 MWt (ISO) in Serdarabat district of Lebap province of Turkmenistan; The framework agreement between the State Concern "Turkmengaz" and a consortium of companies «Itochu Corporation», «JGC Corporation», «Mitsubishi Corporation», «Chiyoda Corporation», «Sojitz Corporation» (Japan), «Çalik Group of Companies» and «Rönesans Endüstri Tesisleri Inşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi »(Turkey) on construction projects in the framework of the development of the gas field "Galkynysh".

At the end of the meeting Chairman of the Japan-Turkmen Economic Committee, vice president of the corporation «ITOCHU» Yoichi Kobayashi on behalf of all the participants expressed to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deep appreciation for the open and detailed discussion on the prospects of bilateral business partnership.

Further, the Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli held a ceremony of awarding the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with title of “Honorary Professor” of the University.

The rector of the Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli G.Hanmyradov announced the decision of the Supreme Attestation Committee of Turkmenistan on awarding Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the title of "Honorary Professor of the Turkmenistan State University named after Makhtumkuli" for a great personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly relations between the Turkmen and Japanese peoples, the development of trade- economic ties between the two countries, expand cooperation in the energy, scientific and technological, educational, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Addressing the meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the staff of the Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli for the honor – to be awarded the title of Honorary Professor of one of the leading Turkmen universities, he noted that he considers it as another symbol of the growing the ties of friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two peoples.

In the evening, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an official dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan, at which the two leaders exchanged speeches.

On October 24 in the morning, the distinguished guest proceeded to the Ashgabat International Airport and departed from the Turkmen capital.