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 Japanese firms like Sprix, Fujifilm SystemService, Digital Knowledge Inc, and Gakken Holdings.
A strategic memorandum of understanding was signed between the Kyrgyz-Japanese Human Development Center (KRJC) and the Kyrgyz-Japanese School Complex. Another focused on establishing the Kyrgyz-Japanese Digital University (K-JDU).
Uzbekistan: Strategic Investment Expansion
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Takaichi signed wide-ranging agreements in education, healthcare, environment, water, transport, urban development, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.
Key priorities included green energy, IT, critical minerals, mechanical engineering, and healthcare modernization. Japan committed yen-denominated loans, medical equipment grants, and investment support for MSMEs.
A project portfolio worth over $12 billion was announced, and both sides agreed to create a joint investment platform and a special economic zone in Samarkand modeled on Japanese standards. The scaling-up of the “One Village, One Product” initiative was also supported.
Japan and Uzbekistan, which have cooperated in education since the early 1990s, plan to open a joint university in Tashkent with Tsukuba University.
Tajikistan: Unlocking Potential
A Trade and Investment Forum during President Emomali Rahmon’s Tokyo visit attracted over 70 officials and business leaders.
The two sides noted the need to shift from isolated projects to a systemic investment strategy. Tajikistan emphasized its favorable business climate and openness to Japanese participation in infrastructure, energy, and high-tech sectors.
An intergovernmental agreement was signed on mutual investment protection.
JICA has played a key role in Tajikistan since 2006, supporting development in water, transport, education, and more. Bilateral trade exceeded $109 million in 2024.
Kazakhstan: Resources and Logistics Hub
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held high-level talks with Prime Minister Takaichi and business leaders from Mitsui, Rakuten, Sumitomo, Komatsu, Hitachi, and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security.
Over 60 agreements totaling $3.7 billion were signed. Kazakhstan, which supplies uranium, rare earth metals, and oil to Japan, received more than $8.5 billion in Japanese investments. Trade between the two countries reached approximately $2 billion in 2024.
Japan will help modernize customs procedures at the port of Aktau and participate in infrastructure development along the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian route). More than 80% of land freight between Asia and Europe currently passes through Kazakhstan.
Energy Projects and Future Cooperation
Kazakhstan’s natural resources and Japan’s nuclear expertise offer opportunities for cooperation in energy innovation, safety, waste management, and personnel training.
The region’s reserves of rare earth elements make it a potential hub in the global energy transition. The SmartMining Plus project, focused on digitalization and sustainability in mining, is already underway.
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Japan date back to 1992. Over 60 Japanese firms now operate in Kazakhstan across sectors such as energy, mining, finance, medicine, and logistics.
Expert Assessment
According to Timur Dadabaev, professor at Tsukuba University, the summit marks a shift from quiet diplomacy to a strategic institutional partnership. It strengthens Central Asia’s multi-vector diplomacy and embeds Japan’s long-term presence.
Tajik analyst Sobir Kurbanov noted the increased significance of Central Asia in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Japan’s access to critical resources, including rare earth metals, is a key strategic interest.
Japan faces stiff competition from Russia, China, the European Union, and the U.S., but its image as an innovative, non-imperial partner gives it a unique edge.
Kazakh political scientist Dosym Satpayev noted that Japan’s trade with Central Asia, about $35 billion, is higher than that of the U.S., though it trails China’s $95 billion and the EU’s $50 billion with Kazakhstan alone. Kazakhstan remains Japan’s primary regional partner, mostly supplying raw materials.
AloJapan.com