Uzbekistan Calls for Central Asia–Japan 2040 Strategy

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has put forward a series of initiatives to strengthen cooperation between Central Asia and Japan, centring on a long term strategy through to 2040 and regular meetings of regional leaders.

Speaking at the first Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue summit in Tokyo on December 20, Mirziyoyev proposed holding summits at the level of heads of state every two years. He said Uzbekistan was ready to host one of the next meetings.

The president also suggested drafting a Central Asia–Japan 2040 strategy to set long term priorities for cooperation and outline concrete projects in economic development and sustainability.

On the economic agenda, Mirziyoyev proposed establishing an investment fund to support infrastructure and industrial development across the region. He also called for the creation of a network of Japanese technoparks to promote industrial cooperation and technology transfer.

He placed particular emphasis on digital cooperation, proposing the launch of a Central Asia–Japan digital hub bringing together projects in artificial intelligence, the internet of things and cybersecurity.

Other priorities outlined included cooperation in green energy, environmental protection and transport, as well as closer coordination on seismic safety. In the humanitarian sphere, the president urged an expansion of educational cooperation and the launch of youth programmes.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration.

Kursiv also reports that president Mirziyoyev started his official trip to Japan with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito.