On December 20 in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the Presidents of the five Central Asian countries as she hosted the first Summit of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD) at the leader’s level.
Prime Minister Takaichi highlighted the importance and potential of the Central Asian region, including its geopolitical significance as a junction between Europe and Asia, its importance in economic security due to its energy and mineral resources, and 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.
Prime Minister Takaichi announced initiatives 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.
The Central Asian Presidents welcomed the “CA+JAD Tokyo Initiative” and expressed gratitude for Japan’s cooperation and support in the three priority cooperation areas.
At a press conference following the Summit, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that Central Asia possesses significant strategic importance and great potential, from the perspectives of geopolitics, economic security, and mutually beneficial business opportunities.
“We expressed our intention to support the smooth functioning of global supply chains, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and to strengthen cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence through the Central Asia-Japan Partnership for AI Cooperation,” she said.
Prime Minister Takaichi noted that Central Asia is also a region rich in energy and mineral resources, and with regard to critical minerals in particular, “we will enhance cooperation aimed at strengthening global supply chains through the diversification of supply sources”.
Photo: akorda.kz
