Strategic partnership between Central Asia and Japan in new conditions

A strategic partnership between Central Asia and Japan in a new environment. On December 19-20, 2025, Tokyo will host a landmark event in the history of relations between Central Asia and Japan: the first summit of heads of state in the "Central Asia + Japan" format. The meeting will be a significant milestone, opening a new chapter in the strategic partnership and giving a powerful impetus to multifaceted cooperation between the region and one of the world's leading economies.

It's worth noting that the upcoming summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue, established in 2004. Today, the Land of the Rising Sun prioritizes the comprehensive and mutually beneficial development of relations with Central Asian states. Recognition of the region's strategic importance is also reflected in Japan's 2023 Diplomacy Blue Book, which identifies Central Asia as one of its most important foreign policy areas.

This development is due to the constructive foreign policy of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has ushered in a qualitatively new stage of Central Asian consolidation. This pragmatic policy has not only strengthened the region's international standing but also created favorable conditions for systematic, collective action to neutralize regional threats. Today, Central Asia is a platform for the implementation of major interstate projects (trade, transport, energy), with a dynamic influx of foreign investment and active interaction with global institutions. Consequently, we are witnessing a manifold increase in the region's geopolitical significance, attracting the close attention of global powers.

For their part, the Central Asian states view Japan as a strategically significant partner, whose significant participation is critical to strengthening regional stability and ensuring sustainable economic development. This position is driven by several key factors:

Firstly, since the early days of independence, Japan has supported the economic development of the Central Asian countries through infrastructure projects and effective cooperation in international organizations and financial institutions such as the OECD, EBRD, ADB, and CAREC, as well as through the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects. Japanese participation has encompassed virtually all key sectors – from water supply and sanitation systems to airports, heating plants, and railways. Aid has also extended to the reconstruction of schools, the provision of hospitals with medical equipment, and the training of specialists in business and agriculture.

Secondly, a key distinction of Japanese policy in the region is that Tokyo bases its approach on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and consideration of partners' interests, without imposing unreasonable political conditions. This approach has created an atmosphere of trust in Japan as a "distant neighbor without hidden agendas," whose involvement is perceived not as a desire for dominance, but as a sincere desire to promote the region's sovereign development.

Thirdly, Japan's scientific and technological base, which is, without exaggeration, considered one of the leading in the world, is of particular value in today's realities.

Given the ongoing reforms in Central Asian countries to modernize their economies and transition them to innovative approaches, Japanese experience and technology are of paramount importance. This involves not only technology transfer, but also a comprehensive knowledge transfer, including personnel training, the creation of an institutional environment, and the fostering of a culture of innovation.

In this context, it is important to note that Japan is the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) to Central Asia, focusing its efforts on modernizing public institutions, developing infrastructure, and creating a favorable business environment. Over the years of cooperation, Japan has implemented numerous projects covering reforms aimed at promoting a market economy, democratic governance, and improving education and healthcare systems. However, the most impressive aspect of the Japanese approach is its emphasis on human resources as the foundation of long-term development. Training programs at Japanese centers in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan covered everything from business fundamentals to Japanese management. As of 2024, 911 specialists have completed training at Japanese universities under the Young Leaders Program. Today, these graduates are helping to deepen ties between Japan and the Central Asian countries, ensuring the continuity of strategic direction. Fourth, Japan has become the first major power to recognize Central Asia as a space requiring a comprehensive approach. Back in 2004, Tokyo put forward an initiative to create a “Central Asia-Japan” dialogue format to promote regional cooperation and independent development in Central Asia.

The vision of this approach lay in its deliberate flexibility. Each meeting focused on addressing specific issues—from border and water resource management to economic diversification and regional security. And all of this took place without cumbersome commitments or rigid contractual structures. This model proved so effective that it was subsequently adopted by other global players, including the European Union, South Korea, the United States, China, and Russia. The success of the Japanese initiative confirms the correctness of the chosen strategy, which is aimed at practical solutions to specific problems while respecting the sovereignty of states in the region.

Based on the above, promising areas for further development of cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan could include: First, promoting common interests and initiatives within international organizations. Over the years of cooperation, a good practice of mutual support has been established within the UN. In particular, Uzbekistan has supported Japan's candidacy for membership in various UN bodies more than 40 times. In turn, Tokyo supported Uzbekistan's candidacy for election to the UN Human Rights Council in 2021-2023, as well as Samarkand as the venue for the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2023. Moreover, the Japanese side was among the co-authors of five UN General Assembly resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan on regional issues ("Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia", "Strengthening Regional and International Cooperation to Ensure Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region", "Declaration of the Aral Sea Region as a Zone of Environmental Innovation and Technology", "Strengthening the Role of Parliaments in Accelerating the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals").

Japan also supports regional initiatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Specifically, it has contributed to cross-border cooperation projects aimed at combating drug trafficking and transnational organized crime and strengthening cooperation in border management.

Of particular interest is the involvement of Japan's advanced knowledge, technical potential, and financial resources in the activities of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security in the Aral Sea Region. Incidentally, Japan played an active role in the development of this initiative. Second, transport connectivity. Central Asia's geostrategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes the region attractive in terms of transport and logistics capabilities. Collaboration in developing a comprehensive transport and communications system will help fully realize Central Asia's transit potential, given that, according to UN estimates, global demand for freight transport will triple by 2050. This trend poses a direct challenge for landlocked Central Asian countries, fueled by the fact that maritime logistics has been a key element of global trade for centuries. According to statistics, maritime transport currently accounts for over 80% of global trade. Moreover, freight transportation costs in Central Asian countries reach up to 50% of the final price of goods, which is almost five times higher than the global average of 11%. Against this backdrop, close cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan in the construction and modernization of railways and highways, the digitalization of customs points, and the creation of logistics centers is particularly important, as this will allow for the full realization of Central Asia's transport and transit potential.

Third, cooperation in critical mineral resources. Central Asia holds 39% of the world's manganese ore reserves, 31% of chromium, 20% of lead, 13% of zinc, and 9% of titanium. Close cooperation with Central Asian countries will allow Japan to diversify its mineral sources and prevent supply chain disruptions. According to open sources, in 2022 alone, Japan imported $628 million worth of rare earth metals. Therefore, attracting high-quality investment and modern Japanese technologies into the advanced processing of the resource base and the creation of a complete value chain will be an important criterion for ensuring the accelerated development of Central Asia.

Fourth, combating climate change. Central Asia is among the regions most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Specifically, according to World Bank estimates, if the global average temperature rises by 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century at current rates, the increase in Central Asia will be 7 degrees. This creates the potential for damage to the natural dams of 300 high-mountain lakes. According to expert calculations, with an increase in average annual temperature of 2-4 degrees Celsius, the volume of mountain glaciers in the region could shrink by up to 78%. Given the above, the introduction of Japanese technologies in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy will contribute to strengthening Central Asia's resilience. Japan is already actively investing in the clean and renewable energy sector, recognizing the critical role that the region's natural resources play in the global supply chain for green technologies. Of particular interest is Japan's experience developing applications using radar satellites for natural disaster monitoring, as well as strict earthquake-resistant construction standards, which are critical in seismically active regions. These technologies have the potential to save thousands of lives and prevent colossal economic damage.

Fifth, establishing cooperation on poverty reduction. Today, Central Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, demographically. According to the UN, the region's population will reach 100 million by 2030, increasing its importance in terms of consumer markets. In this context, the issue of creating new jobs is becoming increasingly important, which underscores the importance of continuing the "One Village, One Product" program, initiated in 2017 in Central Asian countries with the support of JICA.

As political and social stability in Central Asia strengthens, the nature of Japanese involvement is evolving from traditional development assistance to more complex, technology-focused projects. JICA, the primary instrument for promoting Japanese cooperation, is gradually being supplemented by institutions such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which support larger-scale commercial projects. This new dynamic is exemplified by the memorandum of understanding between JBIC and the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, as well as the growing cooperation of companies such as Sojitz Corporation in high-tech sectors. This transformation of assistance illustrates the transition to a more advanced and mutually beneficial partnership, where Japanese companies not only facilitate but also become full-fledged participants in the region's economic development.

Overall, the qualitatively new stage of regional cooperation observed in Central Asia has served as a powerful catalyst for the intensification of Japan's foreign policy toward Central Asia. Under these circumstances, the region continues to demonstrate openness to an equal and mutually beneficial partnership, and Japan is prepared to expand its participation in its development. Central Asia today is an active player in international relations, capable of formulating its own agenda and choosing partners based on national interests.

Undoubtedly, the upcoming summit on December 19-20 this year in Tokyo will become a platform for identifying "untapped" horizons of cooperation and will create all the preconditions for opening a new chapter in the strategic partnership between Central Asia and Japan in the current context.