Japan agrees to help Uzbekistan develop uranium

Japan and Uzbekistan agreed Monday to step up economic co-operation focusing on development of natural resources including uranium and rare earth minerals in the Central Asian country. Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda and Uzbekistan First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov reached the agreement in a meeting, the Japanese trade ministry said.
The meeting was held ahead of a three-day visit to Japan by Uzbek President Islam Karimov, which starts Tuesday. Kaieda also signed a memorandum with Uzbek Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade Galina Saidova to promote trade and investment links between the two countries, Japanese ministry officials said.