The first summit meeting of the Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue was held in Tokyo on December 20, 2025, bringing together the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Leaders discussed economic cooperation, the environment, critical mineral supply chains and other issues.
The summit marked an upgrade in diplomatic importance from nine foreign ministers’ meetings between 2004 and 2022, 14 meetings of senior officials since 2005, 13 Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogues since 2006 and an economic forum in 2011.
“The international situation has changed drastically,” Takaichi said, adding “and the region’s importance is growing as a trade route connecting Asia and Europe.
“Central Asia has great significance and potential in terms of geopolitical importance, economic security and mutually beneficial business opportunities.”
The search for alternative supplies of critical minerals may have been the immediate impetus for Japan, but the initiative reflects broader strategic interests. Japan is seeking to build on more than two decades of engagement, while Central Asia is drawing greater attention in an increasingly competitive international environment.
The US-Central Asia Summit was held in November 2025 and President Donald Trump plans to invite the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the G20 meeting in Miami next year.
The second Russia–Central Asia Summit was held last October in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Independent States heads of state summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The second China–Central Asia Summit took place last June, while the first EU–Central Asia Summit was held last April. South Korea plans to host a summit meeting with Central Asian leaders in 2026 after a delay caused by political turmoil in Seoul.
On December 10, Hyundai Rotem, a rolling stock, industrial equipment and defense subsidiary of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, shipped six high-speed trains with a total of 42 cars to Uzbekistan.
For Japan and China, both of which excel in railway building, the deal underscored how competitive bidding is reshaping infrastructure development in Central Asia.
At this month’s summit, the six national leaders adopted a “Tokyo Declaration”, which describes Japan’s role as a “catalyst” for regional cooperation in areas of human resource development, counterterrorism drug trafficking prevention, border control, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and water resources.
The declaration outlines three priority areas for future cooperation:
- Green and Resilience: New industry development and industrial upgrading, including modernization of thermal power plants, consistent with climate change mitigation.
- Connectivity: Enhancing logistics, transportation, and people-to-people exchanges within and beyond Central Asia, along with the use of digital technologies to address social challenges.
- Human Resource Development: Healthcare, scholarships, working training, sports, tourism and parliamentary exchanges.
Applying Japan’s extensive experience, the leaders agreed to establish an early warning system and other measures to protect populations from earthquakes, in line with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management.
They also agreed to cooperate on sustainable agriculture, including conservation of plant genetic resources, soil improvement and agri-business.
The leaders endorsed promotion of the “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” to facilitate the movement of goods both within Central Asia and with global markets.
Japan’s right-wing press spun this as “a transportation artery connecting to Europe without passing through Russia,” but the route starts in China and, in any case, Japanese companies ship little freight to Europe via Russia.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the press that “We welcome the decision of the government of Japan to participate in improving customs procedures at the port of Aktau on the Caspian Sea,” and that “Japanese companies could play a greater role in developing rail, port, road, and logistics infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.”
Leaders also agreed to work together to develop safe, secure,and trustworthy artificial intelligence through the Central Asia-Japan Partnership for AI Cooperation.
Japan is targeting 3 trillion yen (US$19 billion) worth of new business projects in Central Asia over the next five years. Toward that end, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan Business Association, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) co-hosted the Central Asia Plus Japan Business Forum alongside the summit meeting. A total of 158 memoranda of cooperation were signed by companies and related organizations.
Japanese trade and investment in Central Asia is still only a fraction of that of Russia and China’s. In Dushanbe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that annual trade volume between Russia and Central Asia had reached $45 billion, but complained that it was still smaller than Russia’s trade with Belarus.
China’s annual trade with Central Asia is worth about $100 billion. Japan’s trade totals less than $3 billion, indicating considerable potential for growth.
Under sections titled “Cooperation on the global stage” and “Global Issues,” the Tokyo Declaration reaffirmed support for “a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” adherence to the UN Charter and importance of “maintaining and strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.”
The latter commitment carries added significance amid recent comments by Japanese politicians about reconsidering Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons to Japan.
Geographically, the five nations of Central Asia are almost as large as the EU, but their combined population is only as big as Germany’s. They hold extensive reserves of oil, gas and minerals, yet their combined gross domestic product (GDP) is roughly equivalent to Thailand’s. However, by functioning as a group, the countries have gained leverage in negotiations with outside powers.
Japan’s approach suggests that while Russia, China, the US and Europe might still view Central Asia through a “Great Game” lens, the region is increasingly focused on comprehensive nation-building.
The next Central Asia Plus Japad Dialogue will be held in Kazakhstan next year.
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Another nothing burger for Japan. PM needs a lesson in geography. 🤣🤣🤣🤣