Japan will continue to make significant investment in Azerbaijan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Azerbaijan Teruyuki Katori said, speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza at a concert of the Japanese folklore ensemble Va-Liga in the Heydar Aliyev Park in Baku's Khatai District.
The diplomat noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Azerbaijan, and this period was remembered by large Japanese investments in the republic.
"Japan has invested heavily in Azerbaijan after the country gained its independence. At first Japan supported large energy projects in the republic, and today we have focused on more local projects in the regions, such as construction of water supply systems, secondary schools and medical institutions. We are implementing the Japanese government's Grant Assistance of Grassroots Human Security Projects in Azerbaijan. Japanese projects bring significant benefits to the regions of Azerbaijan," the ambassador said.
He also highly appreciated the cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Japan, as exemplified by regular concerts of Japanese musicians, such as Va-Liga, which performed in Sheki as part of the Silk Road international music festival. "This was a spectacular concert. As you can see, it was held next to the 'Japanese garden', which was built in 2015 in the Heydar Aliyev Park by a Japanese company, which once again confirms the friendly relations between Japan and Azerbaijan," Teruyuki Katori noted.
The diplomat also touched on the recent Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, admitting that he enjoyed these competitions very much. "I liked it very much, everything was very well organized. There are only a few cities in the world holding such races in the city - before Monaco and now Baku. Three years ago, Formula 1 was held in Japan, but now we do not hold races, so I'm very happy that I had an opportunity to see it in Baku," the Japanese ambassador to Azerbaijan concluded.
