Historic Tokyo Summit: A New Milestone in Central Asia-Japan Relations
On December 20, 2025, the Leaders of the five Central Asian states and Japan convened in Tokyo for the first-ever Summit of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue, marking a historic step in the evolution of relations between Japan and the Central Asian region. According to official reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, this meeting represented the first time the dialogue was elevated to the level of heads of state, opening a new phase of high-level political engagement. The summit was chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, and attended by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Participants underscored the significance of the meeting as a milestone in strengthening cooperation between Japan and Central Asia, a region of growing strategic and economic importance.
The Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue was established in 2004 as a foreign minister-level framework aimed at fostering political dialogue, economic cooperation, and humanitarian exchange. Over more than two decades, the mechanism has facilitated regular ministerial meetings, expert consultations, and business interactions. However, until the Tokyo meeting, cooperation within this framework had not reached the summit level, making the current gathering both a symbolic and practical turning point in bilateral and regional relations. During the discussions, leaders focused on expanding cooperation in key areas such as sustainable development, green energy, transport and connectivity, economic collaboration, and human capital development. Educational, scientific and cultural exchanges were also highlighted as essential components of long-term partnership. Official statements emphasized the importance of building resilient and mutually beneficial cooperation grounded in innovation, technology, and shared development goals.
One of the main outcomes of the summit was the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration of the Summit of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue. The Declaration reaffirmed the commitment of all participants to deepen cooperation, respect international law, and support regional stability and sustainable development. It also highlighted the value of continued dialogue and coordinated approaches to addressing regional and global challenges.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in his address, proposed a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing humanitarian cooperation. These included the establishment of Central Asia-Japan dialogue platforms for youth and for women, designed to promote people-to-people contacts and strengthen social and cultural ties between the region and Japan. According to official Turkmen sources, these proposals were put forward as part of a broader vision for long-term and inclusive cooperation. On the sidelines of the summit, numerous public and private-sector cooperation documents were exchanged. These covered a wide range of areas, including education, technological cooperation, transport and logistics, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction. The agreements took various forms, from intergovernmental arrangements to memoranda of understanding between institutions and business entities.
Participants noted the importance of holding the summit amid shifting global and regional dynamics. Japan reaffirmed its interest in Central Asia as a reliable and forward-looking partner, while Central Asian leaders emphasized the role of Japanese expertise, technology, and experience in supporting sustainable economic growth.
The Tokyo Summit was widely regarded as a turning point, signaling a transition from periodic ministerial dialogue to leader-driven cooperation that is expected to shape political, economic, and humanitarian relations between Japan and Central Asia in the years ahead.
Selbi TASHLIEVA,
IV-year student of the Faculty of International Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.