On Friday, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari will start his visit to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Brunei over 27 April – 5 May, senior METI officials said on Tuesday.

Japan's defacto energy minister is scheduled to visit Tashkent and meet top Uzbekistan government officials on 27-28 April and the governments are expected to sign joint statements in areas including building schemes in Uzbekistan, as well as cooperation in uranium and oil and gas developments, the officials said.