TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on Monday, aiming to secure more energy resources for his country and strengthen its presence in Central Asia.

    During the four-day trip, which is the first one by a Japanese premier to the region, Koizumi is scheduled to meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazabayev on Monday afternoon and Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Tuesday, according to a report of Kyodo News.

    This is one of Koizumi's last overseas visits before stepping down later next month.

    Analysts said the trip conveys Japan's strengthened efforts to seek out more suppliers of natural resources.

    "For our strategy on energy resources, it is not good for Japan to be too dependent on the Middle East. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are blessed with abundant resources," Koizumi was quoted by Kyodo as saying before leaving Tokyo.

    The Japanese government also desires to garner more support through the visits for its bid to join the United Nations Security Council, local media said. Enditem