Azerbaijan's Ismailly and Japan's Ito to be twin cities
By Nazrin Gadimova
A twinning agreement will be signed between the Japanese city of
Ito and the Azerbaijani town of Ismayilly. The document will help
deepen cooperation between the two peoples, said President of the
International Association for Cooperation of the city of Ito,
Fujihiro Ohnuma, said.
Ohnuma also said that the signing of the agreement was proposed by Saki Kosugi, President of Kosugi Zohen Co. Ltd, a landscape design company.
"I want to remind that this company is an author of the Japanese Garden built in the Heydar Aliyev Park in Ismayilly. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who inaugurated the garden, said continuation of this work will be beneficial for both nations," Ohnuma said.
After both countries' leadership gave the go-ahead, discussions were held to begin preparations for the signing. The point is that both towns look alike in terms of their nature. The preparations for the signing of the documents started after Azerbaijani Ambassador to Japan Gursel Ismayilzade's discussions with the Ito administration.
Ohnuma went on to say that Ito Mayor Hiromi Tsukuda visited Ismayilly in October last year. In an interview with Shizuoka newspaper, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with Azerbaijan.
Ohnuma said the Japanese government pays special attention to the development of international cooperation and added that the main aim is to maintain the development of mutual exchange and to expand the friendship relations. The authorities of Ito intend to introduce the city in the international arena.
"Ito's beautiful nature, water sources, its location on the coast of the ocean attract the attention of many people, and it will be a good recreation area for Azerbaijani tourists. On the other hand, rapidly developing Azerbaijan is a very interesting country for the Japanese, and our residents intend to visit Ismailly, which is distinguished by its rare nature," Ohnuma said.
Ohnuma also noted that the signing of such an agreement is the first in the history of Japan-Azerbaijan relations.
The city of Ito is located in the eastern Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, on the northeast corner of Izu Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is hilly, and its heavily indented coastline is a scenic area. Ito has temperate maritime climate, with hot humid summers, and short, cool winters. On January 1, 1906 the village of Ito was raised to the city status.
Ismayilly is located 185 km away from the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The region, located in the northern and central parts of Azerbaijan at the southern foothills of the Great Caucasus ridge and in the Ganikh-Alazan- Ayrichay valley, was established in 1931.
Three out of Azerbaijan's nine climate types can be found in Ismayilly. It is located in a subtropical and partly moderate climate zone. The cultivation of vegetables and fruits is common in sunlit parts of the region. Ismayilly has great tourism potential. With its breathtaking mountain forests, mild climate, cold mineral springs and healthy uplands, the region has potential as a resort and recreation zone.