Central Asia + Japan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tokyo Declaration

Japan and Central Asia Enter a New Era of Strategic Partnership

On December 20, the first summit of Central Asian and Japanese leaders (CA+JAD) was held in Tokyo. The Tokyo Declaration, an ambitious roadmap for future cooperation, was adopted during the summit. It aims to transform relations between Japan and the five Central Asian countries into a deep and multifaceted strategic partnership. New Paths for the Region Japan intends to invest about $20 billion in business projects across Central Asia over the next five years. Priority areas for cooperation include environmental initiatives, and the transition to carbon neutrality in the energy sector. Additional areas include developing supply chains for key minerals, disaster risk reduction, and earthquake preparedness. Projects in agriculture and logistics, particularly improvements along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, were also discussed. Other topics covered included launching direct flights between Japan and Central Asia, advancing cooperation in digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and expanding scholarships and training programs. Attendees included Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi; Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov; Tajik President Emomali Rahmon; Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov; and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The second Central Asia-Japan summit is scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan, in line with the agreed English alphabetical rotation. Turkmenistan: Petrochemical Cooperation President Serdar Berdymuhamedov met with representatives of major Japanese corporations, including Sumitomo, Toyo Engineering, Muroosystems, Itochu, Argonavt, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Tokyo Boeki Eurasia. He cited several successful Japanese-led projects in Turkmenistan, such as waste processing plants, a wastewater treatment initiative for industrial reuse, PET plastic recycling, and e-waste processing to reduce hazardous materials. New memorandums were signed between Turkmen and Japanese entities. Key among them: an agreement involving the state-owned concern Turkmenhimiya, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Gap Inşaat on building a urea plant in the Balkan region with a capacity of 1.155 million tons per year. Turkmenhimiya also signed an agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries to extend maintenance for the Akhal gas-to-gasoline plant. In addition, a cooperation deal was reached with Toyo Engineering and Turkey’s Rönesans Endüstri for the second phase of the Kiyanly polymer plant. Other memoranda included partnerships between the Ministry of Automobile Transport of Turkmenistan and Sumitomo Corporation, TurkmenGas and Sumitomo Europe, and the Ministry of Communications and Mitsubishi Corporation Machinery, focusing on artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Agreements were also signed with media outlets, banks, and universities. Diplomatic ties between Japan and Turkmenistan were established in 1992. The Japanese Embassy opened in Ashgabat in 2005, and the Turkmen Embassy in Tokyo followed in 2013. Japan also plays a vital role in Turkmenistan’s export of polypropylene. Japanese firms Kawasaki and Sojits helped construct a fertilizer complex in the town of Mary, while Itochu and Day Nippon were involved in modernizing the national railway’s IT systems. Kyrgyzstan: Energy and Education Ties President Sadyr Japarov oversaw the signing of bilateral agreements spanning exports, energy, healthcare, education, tourism, agribusiness, and digital development. Agreements included a roadmap between Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy and MurooSystems for a small hydropower plant on the Chon-Kemin River and various education-related memorandums with...

Central Asia + Japan

Uzbekistan and Japan Announce Over $12 Billion in New Strategic Projects

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has concluded an official visit to Japan that both Uzbek and Japanese sources have described as a turning point in bilateral relations. According to Sherzod Asadov, the president’s press secretary, the visit elevated Uzbekistan-Japan ties to an expanded strategic partnership, marking a shift from primarily humanitarian and technical cooperation to a broader economic framework grounded in long-term strategic planning. During the visit, Mirziyoyev held meetings with Emperor Naruhito, Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, parliamentary leaders, senior government officials, and representatives from Japan’s business and academic communities. Asadov noted that a new portfolio of cooperation projects, valued at more than $12 billion, was formed, encompassing sectors such as education, healthcare, environmental protection, water management, transport, urban development, tourism, agriculture, and disaster-risk reduction. Particular emphasis was placed on green energy, energy storage systems, and industrial cooperation. Major Japanese corporations were invited to join long-term partnership programs, signaling a deepening of economic ties. Japanese media also underscored the economic dimension of the visit. NHK World reported on a business forum in Tokyo where Mirziyoyev urged Japanese companies to invest in Uzbekistan’s industrial transformation, highlighting areas such as advanced technology, stable energy supply, and critical minerals development. He emphasized that Japanese participation would bolster ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and boosting exports. Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, expressed Tokyo’s support for sustainable development in Uzbekistan, with a focus on private-sector cooperation. Japanese firms operating in Uzbekistan presented current projects in renewable energy and mineral exploration. Uzbek business representatives, in turn, highlighted the country’s demand for Japanese technology and acknowledged improvements in the investment environment. The visit also included President Mirziyoyev’s participation in the first “Central Asia + Japan” summit. Discussions focused on regional connectivity, green economic initiatives, digital and investment collaboration, and human capital development. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, which reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to deepening multilateral cooperation. Following the engagements in Japan, Mirziyoyev traveled to Russia for a working visit to attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting and an informal summit of CIS heads of state in St. Petersburg.

AI Development

Tokayev Proposes Regional AI Partnership Center with Japan in Astana

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed establishing a regional center in Astana to facilitate cooperation between Central Asian nations and Japan in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) development. Speaking at the inaugural summit of the Central Asia-Japan Dialogue, Tokayev endorsed Tokyo’s initiative to build an AI partnership with the region. He noted that Kazakhstan has committed to developing a digital state and highlighted recent milestones, including the launch of the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center, the deployment of two supercomputers in 2025, and the ongoing implementation of the Digital Qazaqstan strategy. Kazakhstan is prepared to serve as a platform for regional AI collaboration, Tokayev said, suggesting that the proposed initiative be anchored at the Astana Hub and Alem.ai, both of which possess advanced infrastructure and a growing international tech ecosystem. He expressed particular interest in Japan’s expertise in water management digitalization, including water conservation, scientific research, and remote sensing. The president also proposed cooperation in sustainable agriculture, citing Kazakhstan’s interest in Japanese technologies for smart farming, drought-resistant crop development, and resource-efficient agricultural practices. He invited Japanese scientists to participate in establishing a joint research platform and proposed holding the first expert meeting in Astana. Tokayev further emphasized Kazakhstan’s interest in Japanese technology and investment in the energy sector from coal industry modernization and clean energy development to nuclear power. He noted that Kazakhstan supplies roughly 40% of the world’s nuclear fuel and holds substantial reserves of rare earth and critical minerals essential to the global energy transition. As previously reported by the Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan recently launched the region’s most powerful supercomputer and reached an agreement with NVIDIA to roll out AI education programs through the Deep Learning Institute.

Central Asia + Japan

Mirziyoyev Begins Japan Visit With Central Asia Leaders’ Reception in Tokyo

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan began his visit to Japan on Thursday by attending an official reception hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. The event marked the opening of a series of engagements bringing together the leaders of Central Asia and Japan, with a focus on strengthening regional cooperation. The reception brought together the presidents of all five Central Asian states. Alongside Mirziyoyev were President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan. The gathering underscored Japan’s effort to engage the region as a group, rather than solely through bilateral ties. Mirziyoyev’s presence at the Akasaka Palace, a venue reserved for state-level diplomacy, highlighted Uzbekistan’s growing role in Central Asia and its expanding foreign policy outreach beyond the immediate region. In recent years, Tashkent has sought to deepen ties with Asian partners, including Japan, in areas ranging from infrastructure and energy to education and technology. According to the visit programme, Mirziyoyev will hold high-level talks with Japanese government officials on December 20. Those discussions are expected to focus on trade and investment, technological cooperation, and sustainable development, including green energy and climate resilience. Japan has been a long-standing development partner for Uzbekistan, providing loans, grants, and technical assistance through agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The visit will feature the inaugural leaders-level “Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue Summit, bringing all six sides together in a multilateral format. The summit is intended to build on earlier dialogue mechanisms and explore joint approaches to economic connectivity, regional stability, and long-term growth. For Mirziyoyev, the Tokyo meetings offer an opportunity to reinforce Uzbekistan’s reform agenda on an international stage and to position the country as an active participant in shaping Central Asia’s collective engagement with major partners such as Japan.

Central Asia + Japan

Japan Opens First Leaders-Level Summit With Central Asia

Japan hosted its first leaders-level summit with the five Central Asian republics on Friday, marking a diplomatic advance in a relationship that has existed for more than two decades but has rarely drawn wide attention. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opened the “Central Asia + Japan” summit in Tokyo, with discussions set to continue through December 20. The summit elevates a dialogue that until now has been conducted mainly at foreign ministers’ or senior diplomatic levels. Japan launched the original “Central Asia + Japan” initiative in 2004 to build cooperation with the Central Asian states through economic, educational, and political channels. In a bilateral meeting linked to the summit, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin, with the two sides agreeing on a cooperation program covering 2026–2028 and an investment treaty. These agreements represent the most concrete, publicly documented outcomes from the summit’s opening day and highlight Japan’s focus on strengthening bilateral ties alongside the broader multilateral dialogue. In parallel with the leaders’ meeting, Japan is hosting a “Central Asia + Japan” business forum organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to promote trade and private-sector cooperation. The leaders’ summit follows high-level bilateral diplomacy earlier in the week. On December 18, Prime Minister Takaichi met Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Tokyo, where the two leaders signed a strategic partnership statement focused on energy, critical minerals, and expanded cooperation. Central Asia’s geopolitical significance has increased in recent years as its governments pursue multi-vector foreign policies aimed at broadening their external partnerships beyond traditional ties with Russia and China. Japan’s decision to elevate its dialogue with the region reflects this shift and Tokyo’s effort to remain an active partner amid growing engagement from the European Union, the United States, South Korea, and others. For Friday, the summit’s significance lies less in headline announcements than in its symbolism and early bilateral outcomes. The opening confirmed Japan’s intent to engage Central Asia at the highest political level, with broader commitments expected once the leaders conclude their talks and release a joint statement or action plan.

Central Asia + Japan

Japan Steps Out of the Shadows With First Central Asia Leaders’ Summit

On December 19-20, Tokyo will host a landmark summit poised to reshape Eurasian cooperation. For the first time in the 20-year history of the “Central Asia + Japan” format, the dialogue is being elevated to the level of heads of state. For Japan, this represents more than a diplomatic gesture; it signals a shift from what analysts often describe as cautious “silk diplomacy” to a more substantive political and economic partnership with a region increasingly central to global competition over resources and trade routes. The summit will be chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders of all five Central Asian states, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, have confirmed their participation. Alongside the plenary session, bilateral meetings and a parallel business forum are scheduled to take place. Why Now? Established in 2004, the “Central Asia + Japan” format has largely functioned as a platform for foreign ministers and technical cooperation. According to Esbul Sartayev, assistant professor at the Center for Global Risks at Nagasaki University, raising the dialogue to the head-of-state level marks a deliberate step by Japan to abandon its traditionally “secondary” role in a region historically dominated by Russia and China. This shift comes amid a changing geopolitical context: disrupted global supply chains, intensifying competition for critical and rare earth resources, and a growing U.S. and EU presence in Central Asia. In this environment, Tokyo is promoting a coordinated approach to global order “based on the rule of law”, a neutral-sounding phrase with clear geopolitical resonance. Unlike other external actors in Central Asia, Japan has historically emphasized long-term development financing, technology transfer, and institutional capacity-building rather than security alliances or resource extraction. Japanese engagement has focused on infrastructure quality, human capital, and governance standards, allowing Tokyo to position itself as a complementary partner rather than a rival power in the region. Economy, Logistics, and AI The summit agenda encompasses a range of priorities: sustainable development, trade and investment expansion, infrastructure and logistics, and digital technology. Notably, the summit is expected to include a new framework for artificial intelligence cooperation aimed at strengthening economic security and supply chain development. It is also likely to reference expanded infrastructure cooperation, including transport routes linking Central Asia to Europe. As a resource-dependent country, Japan sees Central Asia as part of its evolving “resource and technological realism” strategy. For the Central Asian states, this presents a chance to integrate into new global value chains without being relegated to the role of raw material suppliers. Kazakhstan: Deals Worth Billions The summit coincides with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Japan from December 18-20. During the visit, more than 40 agreements totaling over $3.7 billion are expected to be signed. These span energy, renewables, digitalization, mining, and transport. Participants include Samruk-Kazyna, KEGOC, Kazatomprom, KTZ, and major Japanese corporations such as Marubeni, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba, and JOGMEC. Japan’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Yasumasa Iijima, has referred to Kazakhstan as a future Eurasian transport and logistics hub, highlighting its strategic role in developing the Trans-Caspian...