As Japan is poor in natural resources, it is a matter of vital importance for the government to develop and improve the nation's strategy in resource diplomacy.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, both rich in natural resources.

In Kazakhstan he met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and forged an agreement to improve cooperation in the natural resources and energy fields, including the development of uranium mines and the uranium trade. Kazakhstan has the world's second-largest reserves of uranium.

In Uzbekistan, Koizumi also reached an agreement with President Islam Karimov on various fields of cooperation including the development of uranium mines. Uzbekistan ranks 10th in the world in terms of uranium reserves.