Georgia, Tbilisi, July 23 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze visited Tokyo on July 18-22 in connection with the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Georgia and Japan. Vashadze met with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba during the visit, Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
The sides discussed prospects for further development of Georgian-Japanese relations, both bilaterally and in multilateral formats.
Vashadze stressed the importance of the working visit of the Georgian Prime Minister to Japan, held on June 27-28, and noted that agreements achieved during the visit will be an important step towards further deepening of bilateral relations in the political and economic areas. The Georgian side emphasised the importance of cooperation between Georgia and Japan in the field of investment and technological innovation and the Japanese side expressed satisfaction with the state of the business environment in Georgia.
The parties noted that the continuation of political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries will contribute to greater cooperation and agreed to hold another round of consultations in December.
Grigol Vashadze thanked the Japanese side for its financial assistance to Georgia.
The parties discussed the issue of financing of highway construction by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and agreed that the Japanese side will make the study of the project.
For its part, Japan's foreign minister stressed the importance of a stable and democratic development of Georgia's security in the South Caucasus and expressed unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
The Japanese side expressed its readiness to assist in the format of GUAM-Japan cooperation on the implementation of energy projects.
GUAM was established by the post-Soviet countries in 1997 during the EU presidential summit in Strasbourg. In 1999, Uzbekistan joined the organisation, and left four years later. A decision was made to rename GUAM as an international organisation 'Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM', at the organisation's first summit in Kiev in 2006.