Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev voiced appreciation Wednesday for Japan's support on the reconstruction of Afghanistan, stating that stability in the country is key to peace in Central Asia, a Japanese official said.
Akayev was quoted as saying in a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that Afghanistan had been a threat to other Central Asian countries.
Akayev told Koizumi that all countries in the region appreciate Japan's efforts, such as hosting an international donors' meeting for Afghanistan in Tokyo in January 2002. At the conference, Japan pledged $500 million over a 30-month period. Akayev is currently on a four-day visit to Japan through Friday.