Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister on Parliamentary Affairs have discussed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Elmar Mammadyarov received the Japanese delegation headed by Takao Makino on April 28, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said.

Noting with satisfaction the current level of political, economic and energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, Mammadyarov expressed his conviction that the visit will contribute to furthering the ties between two countries.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov expressed his appreciation to Japanese side for its principled position based on supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within the conflict.

"Although withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are demanded by four resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian fails to fulfill the demands of UN SC resolutions," Mammadyarov said.

Makino, in turn, noting that the respect to territorial integrity of other states is principled position of Japan, said the recent meeting of Azerbaijan-Japan inter-governmental commission and political consultations between the foreign ministries have added further impetus for development of bilateral relations.

The also sides exchanged views on cooperation within the international organizations, widening of treaty-legal basis, promotion of investment and tourism and development of cooperation in non-energy sector.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Japan were established in 1992. Relations between the two countries continue developing. Japan was one of the first countries to support Azerbaijan's forward-looking oil strategy. Today two major Japanese companies Itochu and Impex are involved in the Contract of the Century. Leaders of Japanese business, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Marubeni, and Sojits are involved in the energy and infrastructure projects in the country.

Azerbaijan considers cooperation with Japan in the field of high technology, particularly in the field of manufacture of innovative production, with their further entering the regional markets.

Until now, Japanese companies were involved mainly in projects in the energy sector, but in recent years their interest to cooperate in areas such as petrochemicals, oil refining, energy, medicine, high-tech and space industry has increased.