Agro Perspectiva

Japan assures of its strong support of Ukraine – meeting between Ukrainian President and Japanese Foreign Minister

17.07.2014 16:24 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Today President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports The Head of State expressed gratitude to Japan for its clear position of support of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. «We highly appreciate Japan’s position in the G7, support of Ukraine’s course in the Security Council and the UN General Assembly,» he noted. Petro Poroshenko drew attention to the decision of the European Council and the USA on the imposition of additional restrictive measures against Russia and urged Japan, as democratic state and G7 member, to come forward with the position of solidarity. The Head of State expressed gratitude to Japan for the powerful financial assistance to our country - issuing more than USD 1.5 billion of financial assistance for economic reforms. USD 1.1 billion of the given sum is a soft loan for the implementation of the project on reconstruction of Bortnychi aeration station. The President mentioned USD 300 million issued by Japan for the credit line of the Japanese agency of guaranteeing export and investments for the export of goods to Ukraine. He also mentioned USD 100 million for the program of development that would be implemented jointly with the World Bank. The Agreement on the provision of these funds will be signed today. The Head of State invited Japan to participate in the donor conference on Ukraine in autumn 2014. Besides, President Poroshenko also called on Japan to join the countries that assisted in the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by terrorists in the east of Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko reminded that the last time he had been in Tokyo at the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank in 2012. Approximately at that time Shinzō Abe was elected to the post of Prime Minister of Japan. «We commend positive changes in the economy of Japan since that time,» he said. The Ukrainian President asked to convey Prime Minister Abe an invitation to visit Ukraine at his convenience. «This is the time when we can enhance the level of intensity and efficiency of our contacts,» Petro Poroshenko emphasized. Fumio Kishida informed that Japan was considering assistance to Ukraine in three directions - economic development, strengthening of democracy and national dialogue. He noted that in August, under the instruction of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, high-level government delegation on economic issues and representative delegation of businessmen would visit Ukraine. The Minister invited members of the judiciary to visit Japan to exchange experience. Japan is ready to expand technical cooperation to strengthen the rule of law and increase the efficiency of public administration. The Minister also informed that his country was ready to provide USD 260 thousand for the needs of refugees who had to leave their home because of militants. The parties drew particular attention to the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the space sphere.