On February 5 Japan and Ukraine will sign an investment accord in a move to promote Japanese investment in the country, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday.

"The signing of the agreement follows strong requests from Japanese companies and we believe it would represent assistance to Ukraine through promotion of investment from Japan," Kishida told reporters.

Kishida said Ukraine is "a potentially promising, large market," but that Japan is concerned about the rising conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The accord will be signed in Kiev between Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi and Aivaras Abromavicius, Ukraine's minister of economic development and trade.