The geopolitical location of Ukraine should contribute to its development as a democratic country, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said.
"Your country is in a geopolitically advantageous place – between Russia and the EU. Taking into account this factor, I sincerely want your country to develop as a democratic state," he said, while addressing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during extended talks in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Kan noted that Ukraine was an important partner for Japan, especially in the agricultural sector.
"Ukraine has a very large territory, as well as great potential in agriculture, so your country is a very important and friendly partner for us," the prime minister said.
He noted that Japan praised Ukraine’s decision to give up its arsenal of nuclear weapons.
"Since we experienced the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we very much appreciate your position – that your country unilaterally, voluntarily, renounced nuclear weapons," he said.
Yanukovych, in turn, stressed the need to maintain the Ukrainian-Japanese dialog at a high political level.
"We want to see such a Ukrainian-Japanese dialog at a high political level… We want this dialog to be systemic and regular," he said.
Yanukovych said he hoped that his talks with the Japanese prime minister would open a "new pathway to global relations" between the two countries.
Yanukovych is on a four-day official visit to Japan on January 18-21 at the invitation of the Japanese government.
