The Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD) (Summary)

On December 20, commencing at around 9:30 a.m. for about 80 minutes, the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD) was held in Tokyo, for the first time at the leader’s level. The meeting was chaired by Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, and attended by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Sadyr ZHAPAROV, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Mr. Emomali RAHMON, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, President of Turkmenistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Ministers from each country.

1.   Introduction
(1) Prime Minister TAKAICHI welcomed the visit of the Presidents of the five Central Asian countries to Japan and expressed delight that the CA+JAD, launched by Japan for the first time in the world in 2004, held its first Summit Meeting in Tokyo, in 21 years since its launch.

(2) Prime Minister TAKAICHI also stated that the Central Asia’s presence in the international arena has increased, against the backdrop of changes in the international situation within and surrounding the region over the past 21 years.

(3) In response, the Central Asian countries expressed gratitude for Japan's efforts as host of the first Summit Meeting, and appreciated Japan's role in promoting regional integration and cooperation within the framework of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue.

2.   Main Session: Importance and Potential of the Central Asian region and Cooperation with Japan
(1) Prime Minister TAKAICHI highlighted the importance and potential of the Central Asian region, including (i) its geopolitical significance as a junction between Europe and Asia, (ii) its importance in economic security due to its energy and mineral resources, and (iii) its potential with high economic growth and population increase. She declared the launch of the "CA+JAD Tokyo Initiative" to support the industrial advancement and diversification of the five Central Asian countries and strengthen the mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and Central Asia.

(2) In concrete, initiatives were announced in the newly identified three priority cooperation areas: Green and Resilience, Connectivity, and Human Resource Development.
(i)  Green and Resilience
・  Cooperation on Energy Transition
・  Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction
・  Strengthening Critical Minerals Supply Chains
・  Cooperation on Climate Change Measures
(ii) Connectivity
・  Enhancing Connectivity through Support for the Further Development of the "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route"
・  Launch of the "Japan-Central Asia AI Cooperation Partnership"
(ⅲ) Human Resource Development
・  Continuation of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) and others
・  Cooperation in the Health and Medical Fields
(ⅳ) Others
・  Convening the "Central Asia plus Japan Justice Ministers’ Meeting"
・  Setting a target of 3 trillion yen in business projects over the next 5 years

(3) The Central Asian countries welcomed the "CA+JAD Tokyo Initiative" announced by Prime Minister TAKAICHI and expressed gratitude for Japan's cooperation and support in the three priority cooperation areas. Additionally, the countries showed willingness for forming mutually beneficial projects with Japan, and there was strong interest in further cooperation and strengthening of collaboration with Japan in the three priority cooperation areas, including resource and energy development including critical minerals, climate change mitigation, energy transition, disaster risk reduction, connectivity in logistics and transportation, human resource development, and the health and medical fields.

(4) At the end of the meeting, Tokyo Declaration of the Summit of the CA+JAD was adopted.

(5) Furthermore, on the occasion of the Summit Meeting, more than 150 documents were signed and presented by both the public and private sectors.


[Reference 1] Documents signed on the occasion of this Summit
1.   "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue
      Tokyo Declaration of the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue
2.   Official Development Assistance (ODA)
・  Signing and exchange of notes concerning the yen loan "the Livestock Promotion and Animal Health Enhancement Project" to the Republic of Uzbekistan
・  Signing and exchange of notes concerning the provision of blood storage and transportation-related equipment to the Republic of Uzbekistan (Grant Aid "Economic and Social Development Program")
・  Signing and exchange of notesconcerning four grant aid projects to the Kyrgyz Republic
・  Signing and exchange of letters concerning two grant aid projects to the Republic of Tajikistan
・  Signing and exchange of notes concerning 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

[Reference 2]
Participants from Central Asian countries;
・  H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
・  H.E. Mr. Sadyr ZHAPAROV, President of the Kyrgyz Republic,
・  H.E. Mr. Emomali RAHMON, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,
・  H.E. Mr. Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, President of Turkmenistan,
・  H.E. Mr. Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
 
[Reference 3] "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD)
1.   From the perspective that regional cooperation aimed at solving common regional issues is essential for the stability and development of Central Asia, Japan established this dialogue framework in 2004 to promote such regional cooperation (the first Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Kazakhstan in August of the same year).
2.   Under this dialogue framework, Foreign Ministers' meetings have been held 10 times so far, including online formats. Additionally, various discussions have been conducted with the participation of experts and business representatives in sector-specific Experts’ Meetings and public symposiums such as the "Tokyo Dialogue."