Visit of Azerbaijan’s delegation to Japan in spotlight of Tokyo`s radio channel
Tokyo, February 24 (AZERTAC). Tokyo`s Radio Rainbowtown FM radio channel aired a special program on the upcoming Japan visit of an Azerbaijani delegation and posted a video of the program on its website.
The program featured AZERTAC`s correspondent in Japan Vugar Aghayev who was interviewed by host Soichi Iki and asked questions of radio listeners on the Japan trip of the big Azerbaijan`s delegation consisted of the government officials and representatives of various firms. The 8th joint meeting of the state commission on Azerbaijan-Japan economic cooperation and Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee is expected to take place February 26 in Tokyo. The meeting will discuss trade and economic relations between Japan and Azerbaijan. In addition, the fact that the delegation is comprised of representatives of the ministries of culture and tourism, education, communications and information technologies, health, emergency situations, state agency for alternative and renewable energy sources suggest discussions will span many other sectors apart from trade and economy.
Aghayev noted that Japan is one of the first countries to recognize independence of Azerbaijan. He noted that both countries had cemented their friendship since then. According to him, national leader Heydar Aliyev`s visit to Japan in 1998 played a key role in development of bilateral relationship. He went on to say that President Ilham Aliyev`s official visit to Japan in 2006 gave a fillip to cooperation between the two countries.
Aghayev noted that energy and oil and gas production are the main areas of cooperation. The Japanese companies take an active part in exploration, production and transportation of hydrocarbons from the Caspian. They pumped hundreds of thousand dollars into the economy of Azerbaijan. For its part, Azerbaijan imports cars, equipment, and electronics. He noted the Japanese companies are keen on cooperation in petrochemical, oil and gas refining, health, high technologies, space industry.
Vugar Aghayev noted that Azerbaijan has grown into the regional leader thanks to its rapid development rates. He provided an insight into the huge international projects implemented so far in the country.
Aghayev mentioned Deputy Premier Abid Sharifov`s interview to the Nikkei Newspaper, saying Shahdeniz-2, Trans-Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) and Tran Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) projects delivering natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe require great investments, and Azerbaijan invites Japanese companies to join these projects.
He underlined that effective use of natural resources enabled Azerbaijan to improve social welfare of the population. The policy pursued by the leadership of the country helped reduce poverty to 5.5% and jobless rate to 4.8%. Minimum pensions and salaries are raised every year. As a result of President Ilham Aliyev`s policy to convert oil capital into human capital, every family felt rapid development of Azerbaijan.
Asked about people’s trust in the leadership of Azerbaijan, the AZERTAC`s correspondent noted that the population welcomes the socio-economic policy pursued by the leadership of the country. According to him, the results of the presidential elections held in October 2013 are evidence of this. The turnout at the elections was 72.3%. International observers noted that the elections were conducted in a free, democratic and fair manner. President Ilham Aliyev gained a landslide victory by winning 84.51% of vote.
Aghayev answered questions concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, political parties, Olympic sport movement, great infrastructure projects implemented, and construction boom in the country.
Aghayev noted that the visit of the delegation will be covered by AZERTAC and Azerbaijan Television.
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