Kazakhstan Seeks Solidarity with Japan for Nuclear Abolition

Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)--Visiting Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has called on Japan, the only country attacked with nuclear arms, to work together for eliminating nuclear weapons from the world. Kazakhstan and Japan have suffered the destructive power of weapons of mass destruction, Nazarbayev noted in a speech at the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, on Tuesday. Given that Kazakhstan has been struggling with radiation damage from the Soviet-era Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in the country, Nazarbayev has been working actively on nuclear disarmament. Referring to his planned visit to Hiroshima on Wednesday, Nazarbayev said that he aims to call on the international community to boost efforts for abolishing nuclear weapons. Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both western Japan, were devastated by the U.S. atomic bombings in August 1945 in the closing days of World War II. Nazarbayev also sought economic cooperation between Japan and Kazakhstan, saying the two countries can complement each other. Kazakhstan is rich in natural resources while Japan has advanced technologies, he said. For Japan, Kazakhstan is the largest trade partner among Central Asian countries, Nazarbayev added. With the two countries set to mark the 25th anniversary next year of their diplomatic relations, Nazarbayev said that his country aims to work closely with Japan, stressing the importance of promoting effective cooperation and establishing a creative relationship of trust. END