Central Asia plus Japan
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The Central Asia plus Japan dialogue is a political initiative between Japan and the
Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
n nations of
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
,
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...
,
Tajikistan Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
, and
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked co ...
, with the goal to create “a new framework for cooperation, thereby elevating relations between Japan and Central Asia to a new level”.Joint Statement "Central Asia + Japan" Dialogue/Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Foreign Ministry of Japan
The dialogue, according to the
Japanese Foreign Ministry The is an executive department of the Government of Japan, and is responsible for the country's foreign policy and international relations. The ministry was established by the second term of the third article of the National Government Orga ...
, is also meant to serve as a forum to promote inter-regional cooperation.Press Release: "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue/Foreign Ministers Meeting
Foreign Ministry of Japan
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...
, maintaining its
policy of neutrality A neutral country is a state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military alliances such as NATO, CSTO or the SCO). As a type of ...
, participates only as an observer.


Participating Members

* * * * * *


Initial declaration

The dialogue was formally declared on August 28, 2004 in
Astana Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region, tho ...
, Kazakhstan at a meeting of foreign ministers from the four participating Central Asian governments and Japan. A joint statement was issued which outlined the parties' views on four areas: fundamental principles and values, expansion of Japanese-Central Asian relations, intra-regional cooperation within Central Asia, and cooperation in the international arena. The statement also declared the dialogue's main objectives: *The strengthening of peace, stability, and democracy in the Central Asian region *The strengthening of the region’s economic foundations, the promotion of reform and the social development of the region, including the correction of intra-regional disparities *The strengthening of intra-regional cooperation by the Central Asian countries *The maintenance and development of good relations between Central Asia and neighboring regions as well as with the international community *Cooperation between Japan and Central Asia with respect to both regional issues and issues having international dimensions. The joint statement also outlined several areas of potential Japanese-Central Asian cooperation. According to Kawaguchi, the first meeting was possible due to the efforts of current President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who in 2004 was the country’s foreign minister.


Subsequent meetings

On March 4, 2005 the five countries met again in
Tashkent Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of 2 ...
,
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked co ...
, where "the participants reconfirmed the significance of the 'Central Asia plus Japan' Dialogue," and to "promote concrete cooperation... utilizing the framework of the Dialogue"."Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue/Senior Officials Meeting
Foreign Ministry of Japan
On June 5, 2006 a meeting was held in
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
. There, the five countries agreed to continue to hold further meetings of Foreign Ministers in the future. They also discussed advancements in Japanese-Central Asian exchanges, and the challenges facing inter-regional cooperation, with Japan pledging further support in many areas. The Afghan foreign minister attended the meeting as a "guest"."Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue - Action Plan
Foreign Ministry of Japan
Additionally, two "Intellectual Dialogues" have been held in Tokyo with the aim of expanding intellectual exchanges between the two regions.
Foreign Ministry of Japan
The 4th meeting took place on November 10, 2012 in Tokyo. Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Erlan Abdyldaev, Foreign Minister of Japan Koichiro Gemba, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Idrisov, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Hamrohon Zarifi, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov attended the event. During this meeting, the Government of Japan pledged US $700 million for the projects which will facilitate regional cooperation.


Motivation and significance

Japan's efforts in creating the "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue is part of its "Silk Road diplomacy", a term used for Japan's current Central Asia policy. This policy has two distinct goals: to further enhance bilateral relationships in the region, and to promote regional dialogue. The "Central Asia plus Japan" initiative is an attempt to encourage the latter. Former Foreign Minister
Taro Aso Taro () (''Colocasia esculenta)'' is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, and petioles. Taro corms are a food staple in Afric ...
gave four reasons for Japan's renewed interest in Central Asia:Central Asia as a Corridor of Peace and Stability
Foreign Ministry of Japan
*Given the growing regional influence of
Islamic fundamentalism Islamic fundamentalism has been defined as a puritanical, revivalist, and reform movement of Muslims who aim to return to the founding scriptures of Islam. Islamic fundamentalists are of the view that Muslim-majority countries should return ...
, Japan wants to help Central Asia not be a "weak link in the chain" of international order *Central Asia's significant amounts of natural resources are too important to be ignored *Japan's post-war experiences can serve as a guide for the newly independent states *Japan has an important and growing influence in Central Asia Aso also said, "Japan at this juncture can become a supporter that enhances momentum towards open regional cooperation... Japan hopes for a situation in which it can propose certain areas in which it is willing to cooperate; the Central Asian countries would then take that as an opportunity to enhance the ties and cooperation among themselves." Analysts have said that Japanese efforts in the realm of regional integration and cooperation, especially with regard to Afghanistan, is helpful and complements the efforts of other groups such as the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation russian: Шанхайская Организация Сотрудничества , image = , caption = , logo = SCO logo.svg , logo_size = 160px , map = Shanghai Cooperati ...
(SCO). It has also been suggested that the "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue, along with the development of bilateral relations between Japan and the Central Asian countries, will help provide the region with an alternative to the growing influence of the SCO.Japan joins the energy race
Asia Times Online
According to Almas Dissyukov (2019), today, the dialogue has developed its own structural elements that allow participants to discuss a broad and very rich agenda of mutually beneficial issues at the level of foreign ministers, senior officials, as well as representatives of business and academia. An early idea to hold summits between the leaders of Central Asia and Japan, however, has never been implemented.http://japan.tsukuba.ac.jp/research/JIAJS_PRINTED01_Dissyukov.pdf


See also

*
Foreign relations of Japan The are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Japan maintains diplomatic relations with every United Nations member state except for North Korea, in addition to UN observer states Holy See, as well as Kosovo, Cook Island ...
*
Geostrategy in Central Asia Central Asia has long been a geostrategic location because of its proximity to the interests of several great powers and regional powers. Strategic geography Central Asia has had both the advantage and disadvantage of a central location between ...
* Post-Soviet Regional Organizations


References

{{CARO Central Asia Foreign relations of Japan Foreign relations of Kazakhstan Foreign relations of Kyrgyzstan Foreign relations of Tajikistan Foreign relations of Uzbekistan Japan–Kazakhstan relations Japan–Kyrgyzstan relations Japan–Tajikistan relations Japan–Uzbekistan relations Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan relations Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan relations Kazakhstan–Tajikistan relations Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan relations Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan relations Tajikistan–Uzbekistan relations