Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (left) and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana on Aug. 28.

Koizumi met Nazarbayev after arriving in Astana, the Kazakh capital, at the start of a four-day trip to Central Asia that also took him to Uzbekistan. His trip was part of Japan's efforts to seek more suppliers of natural resources such as uranium, crude oil and gas given the country's heavy dependence on imports of energy supplies from the Middle East.

Koizumi and Nazarbayev discussed the possibility of technical cooperation between their countries to develop oil and uranium in Kazakhstan.

After meeting Nazarbayev Koizumi said, "Cooperation in uranium mine development and in the field of nuclear energy is promising."

He added that Japan and Kazakhstan will strive to conclude an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan is interested in Japan's investment in the central Asian nation and will cooperate with Japanese firms.

During the meeting Koizumi agreed to Japan accepting about 2,000 students from central Asian countries in the next three years.

The visit is also seen as reflecting Japan's eagerness to compete with China, Russia and the United States for influence in the region.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 2, 2006
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