According to Kyodo News, as reported by Ukrinform, Japan held its first summit with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan amid efforts by Russia and China to expand their trade and economic influence in this resource-rich region.
The participating countries adopted the Tokyo Declaration, which calls for decarbonization, logistics facilitation and cooperation on human resource development.
The Caspian Sea route is expected to ensure stable supplies of critical minerals, including rare metals, as well as energy resources such as oil and natural gas.
“The international situation has changed drastically, and the region’s importance is growing as a trade route connecting Asia and Europe,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at the outset of the meeting.
She told reporters that Japan plans to launch new business projects worth a total of 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) in Central Asia over five years, and that the countries also agreed to cooperate on artificial intelligence.
“Central Asia has great significance and potential in terms of geopolitical importance, economic security and mutually beneficial business opportunities. I’m glad that more than 150 public- and private-sector documents were signed on this occasion,” the
Source Ukrainform
