NHK


 

Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa plans to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to call for cooperation over the situation in Ukraine.
Government officials say they are adjusting schedules for the minister to visit the two former Soviet republics in Central Asia.

The trip is scheduled during Japan's consecutive spring holidays starting late this month.

While retaining strong ties with Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are calling for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country.

Hayashi plans to have talks with senior government officials.
The minister had stated that he is committed to strengthening Japan's cooperation with Central Asian countries as partners to create a free and open world and secure the foundation of the international order.

Hayashi also plans to visit Mongolia on the latter leg of this tour. He hopes to call on Mongolia, which maintains friendship with North Korea, to cooperate in resolving the abduction issue as well as the problem of the North's nuclear and missile programs.