President of Uzbekistan Meets with Mayor of Nara

During his official visit to Japan, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with the Mayor of Nara, Gen Nakagawa.

Issues of further developing interregional ties, with a special emphasis on strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation, were discussed, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

The establishment of sister-city relations between Samarkand and Nara, which share deep historical ties, was highly praised. It was emphasized that for many centuries, Samarkand was the center of the Great Silk Road, while the ancient Japanese capital of Nara served as its eastern gateway. These cities played a significant role in the development of international trade and knowledge exchange, forming cultural bridges between civilizations.

The importance of thorough preparation for an archaeological exhibition on the culture and history of Uzbekistan, to be held at the Nara National Museum in 2027, was noted. This project is expected to be a significant cultural event commemorating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Japan.

As a symbol of the enduring friendship and cultural-historical affinity between the two countries and peoples, Gen Nakagawa announced the city’s decision to name one of Nara’s new parks after Samarkand.

During the conversation, the need for active promotion of trade, economic, and investment ties between the two sister cities was emphasized, along with the implementation of cooperation projects in agriculture, tourism, textiles, transport, logistics, and urban planning.