TASHKENT, May 3. /Dunyo IA/. Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Arfiya Eri currently on a visit to Uzbekistan gave an exclusive interview in the Uzbek language to Dunyo IA correspondent:

- My mother is Uzbek and this is my first visit to Uzbekistan - I am sincerely delighted to be here.

Today, together with a member of the Japanese Parliament, we held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, with a particular focus on the prospects for the further advancement of Japan-Uzbekistan relations.

In December of last year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Japan and held a meeting with our Prime Minister, Ms. Sanae Takachi. These talks gave new momentum to bilateral relations, elevating them to a qualitatively higher level. As a result, priority areas for cooperation have been established for the next one, five, and ten years.

I would very much look forward to visiting Uzbekistan again and contributing to the further strengthening and development of our bilateral relations.