The Japanese government plans to present a joint document to advance cooperation on sustainable economic development at the japan-central Asian leaders’ meeting in Kazakhstan in the first half of August, focus on industrial decarbonization, logistics network construction and personnel training to deepen the relationship.
At the meeting, Kishida will demonstrate his support for the goal of carbon neutrality in Central Asia, capitalising on the technological advantages of Japanese companies to help build more coal-fired power plants in the region that emit less greenhouse gases.
Japan will also make clear its support for the construction of the“Caspian channel”, a new logistics link between Central Asia and Europe that will not have to pass through Russia. In personnel exchanges and personnel training, Japan will also provide central Asian countries with more“Specific skills” to obtain the opportunity to work in Japan.
Central Asian countries have been sending large numbers of foreign workers to Russia. As economic sanctions against Russia continue to tighten, these countries are also seeking to diversify the destination of migrant workers.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit Kazakhstan and other Asahi Shimbun in early August, where he will attend the first-ever japan-central Asian leaders’ meeting. Central Asia has strong security and economic ties with Russia and China, respectively. Japan also hopes to strengthen co-operation with Central Asian countries, which are rich in energy and mineral resources, by virtue of its decarbonization-oriented industries.
According to several government sources, the Prime Minister will visit Kazakhstan and other countries from August 9 to 12. It is expected that at the meeting with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries, cooperation will be proposed in three areas: decarbonization, strengthening the construction of logistics networks, and personnel training. In addition, a business forum with the participation of Japanese enterprises will be held to promote economic cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Japan’s dialogue with Central Asia began in 2004 and has so far held nine foreign ministers’ meetings. The Prime Minister’s visit is part of a push by Japan, which is committed to further strengthening ties, to take the 20th anniversary to a leadership level.
Five Central Asian countries are Union Republic of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are also members of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization. But after Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine, countries either abstained or abstained from voting on the resolution condemning Russia, there are also views that Russia’s influence is waning as a result of the war in Ukraine.
China’s presence in Central Asia, on the other hand, is soaring. At the heart of the “Belt and Road” initiative has been Chinese support for infrastructure in the region. In addition to expanding oil and gas imports, China has also expressed its willingness to support regional countries in maintaining law and order and combating terrorism.
Western countries are also seeking deeper engagement in Central Asia. Last September, President Biden met in New York with the leaders of five Central Asian countries to propose co-operation on resource development. Germany also held a summit with the five countries in September last year, and the two sides agreed to strengthen economic cooperation based on resources and energy.
“The Central Asian countries also want multilateral diplomacy that is not solely dependent on China and Russia,” says Sophia University Professor Asahi Townshas, who argues that the Japanese should at least use the ties they have built up over the years to increase the number of partners who share the values of freedom and the rule of law, this is equally important for maintaining regional stability.