Shavkat Mirziyoyev Meets Emperor Naruhito

On December 19, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev started his official trip to Japan with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The Emperor welcomed him warmly, describing the visit as a key step in deepening the friendship and strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan.

President Mirziyoyev thanked the Emperor for Japan’s continued support of Uzbekistan’s reform programme and highlighted the cultural and historical connections between the two countries. Despite the distance, the Uzbek and Japanese peoples share similar values, traditions, and family ties, dating back to the Silk Road era.

The leaders also noted the growing cooperation in education and culture. More than 3,000 Uzbek specialists have trained in Japan, while over 440 students have studied at Japanese universities through scholarships. Japanese is now taught in seven Uzbek universities.

During the visit, Uzbekistan’s Cultural Days were held in Tokyo, with plans next year to host an archaeological exhibition in several Japanese cities showcasing Uzbekistan’s history and culture.

Before concluding the meeting, President Mirziyoyev invited Emperor Naruhito to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.