The Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has formally announced plans to conduct a number of summits with the leaders of Central Asian countries beginning in the coming year, media reports.
In a meeting with a group of deputies from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with the Central Asian countries, citing their significant resources and geopolitical significance.
Proposals to this effect were conveyed to Kishida by Tarō Asō, the Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and former Prime Minister. Specifically, it was recommended that regular summit meetings between Japan and the Central Asian countries be held beginning next year.
At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his intention to direct the country's Foreign Ministry to undertake efforts to facilitate these proposed meetings.
Japan has recently demonstrated a keen interest in fostering closer relationships with Central Asian countries, as evidenced by the upcoming Central Asia Investment Forum 2022, held in Tokyo in early December.
Japan and Central Asia have had a long-standing relationship, with Japan being one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, Japan has actively promoted economic and cultural ties with the region. Japan has provided significant aid and investment to Central Asia, particularly in infrastructure development, energy, and agriculture.
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