President Karzai Meets With Foreign Minister
of Japan, Calls For Further Trade Cooperation
Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan
04/05/2005
Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid
Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, met
today with H.E. Nobutaka Machimura, Foreign Minister of Japan.
During the meeting, the President thanked Japan
for its support to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, especially
to the D.D.R. process, which he believed was a corner-stone
for Afghanistan's development.
The assistance of Japan to the reconstruction
of the infrastructure, including roads, and rural development
areas were discussed.
Discussing trade and investment, the President
emphasised the good tradition of trade between Afghanistan and
Japan, and hoped further trade cooperation between Afghanistan
and Japan could develop.
The President also discussed Afghanistan's interest
to play a more active role in promoting regional economic cooperation,
and called for Japan's support, both bilaterally as well as
at the G8 level.
H.E. Nobutaka Machimura assured the President
that Japan supported Afghanistan's efforts to be economically
independent and promised continued development assistance to
Afghanistan and further cooperation in terms of trade.
The President invited the Prime Minister of Japan
to visit Afghanistan, stressing that the Afghan people would
be very happy to welcome him in their country.
Japan contributed 900 Million Dollars to the reconstruction
of Afghanistan in the last 3 years.
For further information, please contact:
• Khaleeq Ahmad, Tel. 00 93 70 286 853
• Anosha Ahmadi, Tel. 00 93 70 28 99 86
