Strategic partnership between Central Asia and Japan in new conditions

On December 19-20, 2025, a landmark event in the history of relations between Central Asia and Japan will take place in Tokyo - thefirst summit of heads of state in the “Central Asia +” format Japan. The meeting will be an important milestone that will open a new page of strategic partnership and give a powerful impetus to multifaceted cooperation between the region and one of the leading economies of the world.

It should be noted that the upcoming summit is dedicated to the20th anniversary of the “Central Asia + Japan” dialogueestablished in 2004. Today, the Land of the Rising Sun puts forward as a priority the comprehensive mutually beneficial development of relations with the Central Asian states. Recognition of the strategic importance of the region was also reflected in Japan’s Blue Book on Diplomacy for 2023, where Central Asia is named one of the most important foreign policy areas.

This development of events is due to the constructive foreign policy course of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which marked the beginning of a qualitatively new stage in the consolidation of Central Asia. The pragmatic political line not only strengthened the region’s subjectivity in the international arena, but also created favorable conditions for systematic collective work to neutralize regional threats.

Today’s Central Asia is an area for the implementation of large interstate projects (trade, transport, energy) with a dynamic influx of foreign investment and active interaction with global institutions. As a result, we are witnessing a manifold increase in the geopolitical importance of the region, attracting the close attention of world powers.

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

firstly,from the first days of independence of the Central Asian countries, Japan has provided them with support in the development of their economies through the implementation of infrastructure projects and effective cooperation in international organizations and financial institutions such as the OECD, EBRD, ADB, CAREC, as well as through the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects. Japanese participation covered almost all key sectors - from water supply and sewerage systems to airports, thermal power plants and railways. Assistance also extended to the reconstruction of schools, equipping hospitals with medical equipment, training specialists in business and agriculture;

secondly,the key difference between Japanese policy in the region is thatTokyo is based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and taking into account the interests of partners, without putting forward unreasonable political conditions. This approach created an atmosphere of trust in Japan as a “distant neighbor without hidden intentions,” whose participation is perceived not as a desire for dominance, but as a sincere desire to contribute to the sovereign development of the region;

thirdly,of particular value in modern realities is the scientific and technological base of Japan, which, without exaggeration, is considered one of the leading in the world. Considering the reforms being carried out in the countries of Central Asia to modernize the economy and transition it to innovation, Japanese experience and technology are of paramount importance. And we are talking here not only about technology transfer, but also about complex knowledge transfer, including training, creating an institutional environment and creating an innovative culture.

In this context, it is important to note that Japan is the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) in Central Asia, focusing its efforts on modernizing government institutions, developing infrastructure and creating an enabling business environment. Over the years of cooperation, Japan has implemented many projects covering reforms aimed at promoting a market economy, democratic governance, and improving education and health systems.

However, the most impressive aspect of the Japanese approach is the 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 part of the program for young leaders,as of 2024911specialists have been trained at Japanese universities. Today, these graduates contribute to the deepening of ties between Japan and the Central Asian countries, ensuring continuity of the strategic course;

fourth, Japan became the first major power to recognize Central Asia as a spacerequiring an integrated approach. Back in 2004, Tokyo put forward an initiative to create a “Central” dialogue format Asia-Japan", promoting regional cooperation and independent development of Central Asia.

The foresight of this approach lay in deliberate flexibility. Each meeting was focused on resolving specific issues - from border and water management to ensuring economic diversification and regional security. And all this took place without cumbersome obligations and rigid contractual structures.

This model turned out to be so effective that it was later adopted by other global playersincluding the European Union, South Korea, the USA, China and Russia. The success of the Japanese initiative confirms the correctness of the chosen strategy, which is aimed at the practical solution of specific problems with respect for the sovereignty of the states of the region.

Based on the above, promising directions for further development of interaction between the countries of Central Asia and Japan can be:

First, promoting common interests and initiatives within international organizations.

Over the years of cooperation, good practice of mutual support within the UN has been established. In particular, Uzbekistan supported Japan’s candidacy for membership in various UN structures 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 the city of Samarkand as the venue for the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2023.

Moreover, the Japanese side was among the co-sponsors of 5 UN General Assembly resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan on regional issues(“A nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia”, “Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region”, “Declaring 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 assists in the implementation of regional initiatives of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. In particular, with its participation, cross-border cooperation projects have been implemented aimed at combating drug trafficking and transnational organized crime and strengthening cooperation in the field of border control.

It is also of interest to attract advanced knowledge, technical potential and financial resources of Japan to the activities of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region. By the way, Japan took an active part in the development of this initiative.

Second, transport connectivity. The geostrategic location of Central Asia at the “junction” of Europe and Asia makes the region attractive in terms of transport and logistics opportunities. Cooperation in the formation of an extensive transport and communication system will make it possible to fully realize the transit potential of Central Asia, given that by 2050 the demand for freight transportation in the world, according to UN estimates, will increase 3 times.

This trend is a direct challenge for the landlocked countries of Central Asia, fueled by the fact that maritime logistics has been a key element of the global trade. According to statistics, today maritime transport accounts for more than 80% of world trade. Moreover, the share of costs for transporting goods in the Central Asian countries reaches 50% of the final cost of the goods, which is almost 5 times higher than the world average - 11%.

Against this background, close interaction between the countries of Central Asia and Japan in the construction and modernization of railways and highways, digitalization of customs points, creation of logistics centers, which will allow to fully reveal the transport and transit potential of Central Asia, becomes especially relevant. Asia.

Third, cooperation in the field of critical mineral resources. 39% of the world's reserves of manganese ore, 31% of chromium, 20% of lead, 13% of zinc, 9% of titanium are concentrated in Central Asia. Close cooperation with Central Asian countries will allow Japan to diversify its sources of minerals and prevent disruptions in supply chains. According to open sources, in 2022 alone, Japan imported rare earth metals worth $628 million.

Accordingly, attracting high-quality investments and modern Japanese technologies for deep processing of the resource base with the creation of a complete value chain will become an important criterion for ensuring the rapid development of Central Asia.

Fourth,the fight against change climate. Central Asia is among the regions most susceptible to the negative effects of climate change. In particular, according to World Bank estimates, if by the end of the 21st century, at current rates, the average temperature in the world will increase by 4 degrees Celsius, then in Central Asia the increase will be 7 degrees.

As a result, preconditions are created for the violation of the integrity of the natural dams of 300 high-mountain lakes. According to expert calculations, with an increase in average annual temperature by 2-4 degrees, the volume of mountain glaciers in the region could be reduced by up to 78%.

Taking into account the above, the provision of Japanese technologies in the field of energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy will help strengthen the sustainability of Central Asia. Japan is already investing heavily 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 in developing applications using radar satellites to monitor natural disasters, as well as strict earthquake-resistant construction standards, which are critical for the earthquake-prone region. These technologies could save thousands of lives and prevent enormous economic damage.

Fifth, establishing cooperation to reduce poverty. Today, Central Asia is one of the most demographically fast-growing areas in the world. According to the UN, by 2030 the region's population will reach 100 million people, which increases its importance from the point of view of the consumer market.

In this context, the issue of creating new jobs is becoming relevant, which makes it important to continue the “one village, one product” program launched in 2017 in the countries of Central Asia with the assistance of JICA.

As political and social stability strengthens in Central Asia, the nature of Japanese involvement is evolving from traditional development assistance to more complex, technology-oriented projects. The role of JICA, which has been the main vehicle for promoting Japanese cooperation, is gradually being complemented by the participation of institutions such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), supporting larger-scale commercial projects. The new relationship dynamic is exemplified by thememorandum of understanding between JBIC and the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transportand the growing collaboration of companies like 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 contribute, but also become full-fledged participants in the economic development of the region.

In general, the qualitatively new stage of regional cooperation observed in Central Asia has served as a powerful catalyst for intensifying the Central Asian vector of Japanese foreign policy. In these conditions, the region continues to demonstrate openness to an equal and mutually beneficial partnership, and Japan is ready to expand its participation in its development. Central Asia today is an active subject of 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 defining “untouched” horizons of cooperation and will create all the prerequisites for opening a new page of strategic partnership between Central Asia and Japan in modern conditions.

Bakhtiyor Mustafayev,

Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategic

and interregional research

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Bahromjon Sotiboldiev,

Head of the Department of the Institute of Strategic

and Interregional Studies

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan