Bloomberg.com
Updated: New York, Aug 28 08:42  London, Aug 28 13:42  Tokyo, Aug 28 21:42

Koizumi to Sign Kazakh Uranium Pact in First Central Asia Trip

By Keiichi Yamamura

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Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will sign a uranium-development accord with Kazakhstan today during the first visit by a Japanese leader to Central Asia, amid growing interest in the region's mineral and oil resources.

Koizumi will meet President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the first day of a three-day trip that includes a stop in Uzbekistan. Japan is seeking more influence in the largely Islamic area to promote stability and compete with China and Russia for resources.