Japan hosted the inaugural leaders-level Summit of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD) on December 20 in Tokyo, marking a significant elevation of a six-lateral platform launched in 2004 to promote regional cooperation and development.
The meeting was chaired by Japanese Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi. Attendees included:
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan,
- Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic,
- Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan,
- Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan,
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan
Prime Minister Takaichi welcomed the leaders and highlighted the growing global significance of Central Asia over the past 21 years, citing its:
- geopolitical significance as a junction between Europe and Asia,
- importance in economic security due to its energy and mineral resources, and
- potential with high economic growth and population increase.
She announced the launch of the “CA+JAD Tokyo Initiative”, a new framework to advance industrial diversification in Central Asia and foster mutually beneficial partnerships with Japan. The initiative focuses on three priority areas:
Green and Resilience: Cooperation on energy transition, disaster risk reduction, strengthening supply chains for critical minerals, and climate change measures.
Connectivity: Support for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) and the new “Japan-Central Asia AI Cooperation Partnership”.
Human Resource Development: Continuation of scholarships like the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), and collaboration in health and medical fields.
Additional commitments include convening a “Central Asia plus Japan Justice Ministers’ Meeting” and Setting a target of 3 trillion yen in business projects over the next 5 years (approximately $20 billion) in business projects over the next five years.
Central Asian leaders expressed gratitude for Japan’s longstanding support and enthusiasm for deeper ties, particularly in resource development, energy transition, logistics, digital technologies, education, and healthcare.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, reaffirming commitment to the dialogue’s goals.
On the sidelines, over 150 public and private sector documents were signed, including several Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects:
- The yen loan “the Livestock Promotion and Animal Health Enhancement Project” to the Republic of Uzbekistan
- The provision of blood storage and transportation-related equipment to the Republic of Uzbekistan (Grant Aid “Economic and Social Development Program”)
- Four grant aid projects to the Kyrgyz Republic
- Two grant aid projects to the Republic of Tajikistan
- The grant aid project “the Project for Strengthening the System for Region-Wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia (in cooperation with UNDP)” for 5 Central Asian countries
According to the Joint declaration, the leaders agreed that the next summit host country will be in the English alphabetical order starting with Kazakhstan and that the date of the second Summit will be agreed on through diplomatic channels.
The “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, initiated by Japan in 2004, has previously held 10 foreign ministers’ meetings and various expert-level discussions. Elevating it to leaders’ level underscores Japan’s strategy to enhance engagement with the resource-rich region amid shifting global dynamics.
This summit builds on recent bilateral visits and a parallel business forum, signaling stronger economic and technological collaboration ahead.