Tokyo: Japan and five Central Asian countries have announced a series of new initiatives, including efforts to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, following their inaugural summit in Tokyo. The Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue saw Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meet with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss cooperation across various sectors.
According to Anadolu Agency, the summit identified three priority areas for cooperation: Green and Resilience, Connectivity, and Human Resource Development. The Japanese Prime Minister's office issued a statement outlining these priorities, which include energy transition, disaster risk reduction, climate change measures, and the enhancement of critical minerals supply chains under the Green and Resilience initiative.
The Connectivity initiative focuses on the development of the "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route" and the launch of the "Japan-Central Asia AI Cooperation Partnership." Additionally, the two sides have agreed to collaborate in health and medical fields and aim to achieve 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) in business projects over the next five years.
Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized the growing international presence of Central Asia, highlighting its strategic position between Europe and Asia, its economic security importance due to energy and mineral resources, and its high potential for economic growth and population increase.
During the summit, over 150 documents were signed and presented by public and private sectors, marking a significant step in solidifying the relationship between Japan and the Central Asian nations. Takaichi also engaged in one-on-one meetings with each of the Central Asian leaders.