Japan Cinema Week in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, 27 April 2007 (nCa) --- 15 years has passed since the day of establishment of the diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Japan. On this occasion the solemn opening ceremony of the Days of Japanese Cinematograph in Turkmenistan was held in Magtymguly Turkmen National Music and Drama Theatre. The organiser of this cultural action is the Embassy of Japan to Turkmenistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan.

 

As the Charge-d’Affaires of Japan to Turkmenistan Mr. Sigehiro Mimori said in his speech at the solemn opening ceremony, holding such events being efficient guides of great cultures served strengthening the traditional ties of friendship and brotherhood of the Turkmen and Japanese peoples. “Probably, you will see some similarities between the characters and traditions and it will make our countries closer to each other,” the diplomat said.

 

The establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan in the spring 1992 gave a great impulse to development of the multi-sided bilateral co-operation in whose arsenal is a number of large joint projects realised in the priority spheres of the Turkmen economy.

 

Turkmenistan attaches great significance to strengthening relations with Japan and attracting unique Japanese experience and advanced technologies famous throughout the world. Efficient work of the Turkmen-Japanese Committee for Economic Co-Operation whose activities are aimed at stirring up the bilateral partnership with consideration of the mutual interests can serve an example of this.

 

The establishment of the Embassy of Japan to Turkmenistan has become a new stage of the fruitful dialogue which testify to the mutual aspiration of the two countries for further strengthening the ties of brotherhood, friendship and equal partnership.

 

The bilateral meetings and negotiations held during these years have created all prerequisites for participating of the Japanese companies at the Turkmen market. At present such world famous companies as Itochu Corporation, Komatsu and a number of other large international producers are among the partners of Turkmenistan. The Japanese companies efficiently promote development of sports, in particular one of its popular kinds, women’s judo.

 

The years passed have also become a period of stirring-up of the humanitarian ties. Since the mid-1990s over 200 Turkmen specialists successfully worked on probation in Japan within the framework of the programme of the Japanese International Co-Operation Agency (JICA).

 

The present Cinema Festival is another important action which will become part of the cultural ties between the two countries. The best feature and documentary films made by the Japanese film-makers in different periods of time and telling about the life of the Japanese society and its traditions and customs are included into the programme of the festival. Among them are such documentary films as Drums of Japan, Sweets of Japan, Fireworks, feature ones On Women and Asuras, First Love, Sing Girl and a cartoon Express – Galaxy-999. [write up courtesy TDH]