Tokyo 2025: Central Asia + Japan Summit Lays Foundation for a New Era of Partnership
TOKYO, December 20 | ORIENT. A historic event took place in the Japanese capital: the first Summit of Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue (CA+JAD). The participation of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in this high-level meeting confirmed Ashgabat's role as a key architect of regional stability and economic progress.
The event, chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, was also attended by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Opening the meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the Central Asian countries "key partners." Japanese government sources have announced the launch of the "Tokyo Initiative," under which Japan plans to support business projects in the region totaling 3 trillion yen (about $19 billion) over five years.
The main focus of this mega-package is:
Sustainable infrastructure: developing the Middle Corridor.
Digital transformation: training 5,000 IT specialists.
Green growth: transition to carbon neutrality.
Turkmenistan's Position: From Diplomacy to Strategy
Speaking at the Summit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan views this format as a tool for infusing multilateral cooperation with concrete economic content.
Key points in the head of state's speech:
Economics: Successful experience working with giants (Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Itochu) should form the basis for new strategic projects.
Energy: Turkmenistan is initiating the development of common approaches to "green" development and is focusing on hydrogen energy.
Connectivity: Developing sustainable transport corridors, with the port of Turkmenbashi serving as a global hub.
Humanities: The President put forward initiatives to create a Youth Forum and a "Women's Dialogue" platform in the "Central Asia + Japan" format.
Results: Tokyo Declaration and Business Forum
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration. Immediately following the summit, the heads of state took part in the Central Asia – Japan Business Forum. The event was attended by approximately 300 business representatives from Central Asian countries and Japan, representing a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing and mechanical engineering, energy, transport and logistics, finance and insurance, information technology, medicine and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, as well as high technology and innovative development.
