[Title] Joint Statement Concerning Cooperation Directed Toward the Twenty-First Century Between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran

1. On the occasion of the visit of President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan by the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan, from October 31 to November 3, 2000, during which President Khatami made a state call on His Majesty Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of Japan and President Khatami reviewed the present state of relations between the two countries and discussed the nature of future bilateral relations in the twenty-first century. Both sides shared the view that this visit constituted a turning point toward promoting dialogue and understanding in the international community as well as between the two countries. Noting that the future bilateral relationship between the two countries would be pursued toward the peace and stability of the world, both sides reaffirmed that Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran would make utmost efforts in building a more effective and constructive relationship toward the peace and prosperity of the world, and produced this statement.

2. The Japanese side commended Iran's ongoing efforts for reform and positive development in its external relations and welcomed Iran's willingness to exert further efforts in this regard, as well as to play more active roles in the international community.

3. Both sides, recognizing that open and constructive dialogue has created the firm basis for the friendly, amicable and cooperative relationship between the two countries, concurred in further enhancing dialogue and promoting relations between the two governments at various levels and fields.

4. Both sides shared the intention to enhance cultural cooperation and exchange of youths, journalists, scholars and intellectuals, with due respect to the Cultural Agreement between Japan and Iran signed in 1957.

5. Both sides expressed their expectation that the private sector would play a more extended role in expanding the economic relationship between the two countries, and reconfirmed that both governments would study various ways, including technical cooperation, to vitalize and facilitate private economic activities between the two countries including trade, long-term investment and exchange of businessmen. The Iranian side took note of the importance of the cooperation which Japan has extended and expressed its high expectation for Japan's continued contribution to various development programs in Iran, including the "Third Five-Year Economic, Social, Cultural and Development Plan" and programs for industrial development, such as support for small and medium enterprise policy.

6. Both sides, recognizing the importance of cooperation in the field of tourism promotion, confirmed their readiness to enhance cooperation in this field and expressed their hope that such cooperation would deepen mutual understanding and further encourage exchange of people between the two countries.

7. Both sides confirmed the importance of stability of the world oil market and of Iran's role as a major and stable oil supplier for sustainable growth of the world economy at large, and for recovery of the Asian economy in particular. In this regard, both sides, considering that the favorable relations between the two countries were to be established in the development of oil and gas fields in Iran, such as Azadegan oil field, concurred in the importance of Iran's stable oil supply capacity, the stable export-import relationship, including the facilitation of oil trade through such flexible measures as advance facility, between the two countries and the promotion of dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in this respect. Both sides also emphasized the significance of deepening mutual understanding between oil producing and consuming countries based on just and mutual interests, which is conducive to a stable international oil market.

8. The Japanese side appreciated Iran's initiatives toward the promotion of the UN Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. Both sides, hoping that the international community would exert its effort in promoting mutual understanding in the world as a whole on the occasion of the UN Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and recognizing the importance of the "dialogue among civilizations" as a new paradigm for international relations, expressed intention of the two countries to positively engage in such efforts.

9. Both sides, recognizing that the problem of drugs was not merely a domestic problem but a threat to the whole human society, underlined the need for bilateral and international cooperation to tackle the drug problems. The Japanese side recognized with appreciation Iran's serious efforts in combating illicit drug trafficking.

10. Both sides, recognizing that terrorism was a serious threat against the lives and peaceful co-existence of people and international security, and sharing the view that terrorism should be condemned in all forms, expressed their commitment to cooperate to prevent and eliminate terrorism and to take necessary measures.

11. Both sides confirmed their will to continue bilateral dialogue on human rights.

12. Both sides, recognizing that the ongoing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses a significant threat to the international community as a whole, expressed their shared determination to redouble their efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries to this end. The Japanese side stressed the importance to prevent and curb the proliferation of the systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. The Japanese side also stressed the central importance of taking practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.

13. Both sides, sharing the recognition that the United Nations needs to be reformed to become an organization capable of coping effectively with problems in the world of the twenty-first century, emphasized the importance of the realization of the Security Council reform to enhance its legitimacy, representativeness and effectiveness, including the expansion of its permanent and non-permanent membership. The Iranian side, in this context, expressed that the role of Japan as an important member of the international community should be fully taken into account in any decision-making on the expansion of the Security Council. Both sides confirmed the necessity for financial reforms of the United Nations, including the realization of more effective and efficient utilization of financial resources and fair and equitable financial burden-sharing.

14. Both sides expressed their deep regret on the loss of the lives of innocent people in the clashes in the West Bank and Gaza and condemned the provocations, the violence and the excessive use of arms against civilians. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

15. Both sides, taking note of the importance of coordinated efforts with the international community, expressed the expectation for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan and the establishment of a broad-based government representing all Afghan people and reaffirmed their shared intention to actively engage in the peace efforts by the international community, including the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Both sides shared the view that the problem of refugees was a priority issue for the whole international community, and expressed their readiness to extend humanitarian assistance to the Afghan refugees, particularly through international organizations. The Japanese side appreciated the humanitarian measures of Iran, including the hosting of a large number of Afghan refugees. The Iranian side appreciated Japan's cooperation with Iran in this regard and welcomed Japan's initiatives to host the "Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Afghanistan" in Tokyo.

Tokyo, November 1, 2000

Yoshiro Mori

Prime Minister of Japan

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran