Central Asia–Japan Dialogue: Ministerial pledges greater support for infrastructure development

On May 18 the city of Dushanbe, capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, hosted the seventh meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue.  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, B Bebutom Atamkulov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Chingiz Aidarbekov Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirodgiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Vera Hadjiyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan,  Abdulaziz Kamilov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono participated in the meet.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan, and President Emamali Rahmon also participated in it.

Three sessions were held on the following topics: practical cooperation of the countries-participants of the dialogue “Central Asia + Japan” in the field of tourism; cooperation of the countries-participants of the dialogue “Central Asia + Japan” in the spheres of trade, investment and development; and regional security and regional cooperation in Central Asia. Discussions centred around practical prospects for the cooperation between members states in the fields of trade, investment, development, and tourism. A separate session was convened on regional security cooperation.

The dialogue “Central Asia + Japan” was convened on the initiative of Japan. The first meeting took place in the Kazakh city of Nur-Sultan in 2004. The main directions of cooperation in the framework of the Dialogue are political dialogue, development of intra-regional cooperation, business promotion, intellectual dialogue, cultural relations and human exchange.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. Dialogue in this format offers a great opportunity to discuss topical issues on the international and regional agenda, as well as ways to strengthen intra-regional cooperation with Japan’s participation.

Over the years, the dialogue has proven to be a reliable and realistic platform for practical interaction and cooperation between Japan and Central Asia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov noted that in the 15 years of its existence, the Dialogue has become an important platform for cooperation between Japan and the countries of the Central Asian region in the areas of economy, transport, energy, tourism, education, culture, and other spheres.

The sides noted that because the leaders of the Central Asian counties have demonstrated political will and made coordinated effort to find mutually acceptable solutions to issues, the region over the last two hyears has created a new political environment of trust and confidence and good neighbourliness. This has opened up additional possibilities for a qualitative improvement in and the increase of effective cooperation within the ‘Central Asia + Japan’ format. “There has been a breakthrough in addressing many issues that have in the past created obstacles to mutual rapprochement and common interests for the further development and welfare of our peoples,” said Abdulaziz Kamilov. “Trade, investment, transport and communication, industrial cooperation, and cultural humanitarian relations, cross-border and interregional cooperation, interaction in the field of regional security and joint response to modern challenges and threats.”

UN experts have calculated that with effective and regional cooperation the GDP of the Central Asian countries can grow twice as fast over the next ten years and this, it was underscored, was the real task before the region.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister expressed hope that the cooperation with Japan, which makes a huge contribution to the socio-economic development of the countries of the Central Asian region, will continue to serve to help effectively to tap into the region’s huge untapped potential, and even greater intervention into the world system of trade and economic and transportation links. 

The Kazakhstani side noted the necessity and importance of holding a dialogue in the format of Central Asia and Japan, as this platform offers great opportunities to discuss topical issues of the regional agenda and intraregional Cooperation involving Japan. Trade and economic cooperation between Japan and Kazakhstan is actively developing and Japan is the seventh largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan. IN 2018 bilateral trade reached $ 2 billion – an increase of 54% as compared to the previous year.  

 The meeting agreed that the time had come to “check the clock” and to identify specific tasks for the development of the dialogue. Of great interest is the economic and technological potential of Japan, which can be applied to further modernization and diversification of the economies of Central Asia.

“Central Asia is one of the dynamically developing regions of the world, which occupies a strategic position, and has a significant human and high economic potential, natural and industrial resources,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Atambayev said.

The meeting laid particular emphasis on the effective use of the transit and transport potential of the region, which is the core issue of the development of comprehensive cooperation and is of vital importance for the landlocked countries of Central Asia.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono pitched ‘high quality infrastructure exports’ to the Central Asian countries at the meeting. In order to determine the main directions of trade and economic cooperation, Kazakhstan proposed that a meeting at the ministerial level of the economic bloc of the dialogue format be held and proposed that regular meetings of entrepreneurs be initiated so that they could give concrete recommendations as also participate in the implementation of joint projects. This platform had the potential to then attract the attention of Japanese business circles to the trade, economic, investment and transit-transport potential of the Central Asian countries.

During the session on tourism development, it was noted that the countries of Central Asia have been of great interest to foreign tourists over the past years. It was felt that emulation of Japan’s best practices for the establishment of a sustainable and stable tourism sector offered ample opportunities for the Central Asian region which is still an emerging tourist destination. Japan has pledged help with its own experience in the tourism industry.

Minister Kono further said that Japan hopes to support Central Asian countries so that each can develop without excessively relying on any specific county.

A separate bloc addressed the issues of regional security, where the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani was invited as a guest. The participants discussed the issues of counter-terrorism, food, and environmental security.

The Kazakh representatives also familiarized the meeting with its experience and result of Kazakhstan’s Operation “Zhusan” which facilitated the repatriation of Kazakh citizens from Syria. They also informed the meeting about Kazakhstan’s contribution to the efforts of the international community on security and stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan. Kazakhstan also invited the Central Asian countries to participate in the activities of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, headquartered in Nur Sultan, which would facilitate food security.

The collective contribution of the Central Asian states to the strengthening of international security and stability, which has been especially important on the agenda of the non-permanent membership of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, was underscored.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement, whose provisions reflected the deepening partnership between the countries of Central Asia and Japan, and pledged to continue to further promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Representatives of Central Asian countries welcomed Japan’s position to support the “open, stable and independent development of Central Asia” and to promote regional and international peace and stability as a ” Catalyst “for the development of regional cooperation, and expressed gratitude for financial and technical assistance in such areas as improvement of economic infrastructure, training, health, disaster prevention, regional development, combating terrorism and drugs.

The statement also noted the need to attract investments in high-quality infrastructure in accordance with international standards, including such essential elements as openness, transparency, economic efficiency and Financial sustainability of the target country.

The meeting expressed its gratitude to the Republic of Tajikistan as the Chairman country for the period 2017-2019. For holding the seventh ministerial meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and also welcomed Japan’s taking charge as the next country-Chairman of the dialogue for the period 2019-2020.

The eighth meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the dialogue is planned to be held in Japan in 2020.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of increasing Chinese influence in the region through massive investments and especially through its “Belt and Road” investment. At the second Belt and Road Forum, held recently in Beijing, Central Asian countries were eager participants with at least three current heads of state attending the forum. 

Aditi Bhaduri

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