Japan and five Central Asian countries agreed yesterday to develop a transport route connecting the region to Europe without passing through Russia, aiming to ensure stable supplies of minerals and vital energy. In Tokyo, Japan hosted its first-ever summit with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as Russia and China seek to expand their trade and economic influence in the resource-rich region, according to Japan's Kyodo News Agency. To boost economic ties, Japan and the five countries adopted the 'Tokyo Declaration,' focusing on reducing carbon emissions, facilitating logistics services, and cooperating in human resource development. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi said at the start of the meeting: 'The international situation has changed drastically, and the region's importance as a trade route linking Asia and Europe is increasing.' The 'Caspian Sea Route' aims to provide stable supplies of key minerals, including rare earths, as well as energy sources like oil and natural gas. The summit was originally scheduled for August 2024 in Kazakhstan but was postponed after then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled his trip amid warnings of an unusually high likelihood of a devastating earthquake in wide areas of Japan. After the meeting, Takaishi told reporters that Japan plans to launch new commercial projects worth a total of 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) in Central Asia over five years, and the countries also agreed to cooperate in artificial intelligence. She added: 'Central Asia has immense potential in terms of geopolitical importance, economic security, and mutually beneficial business opportunities.. I am pleased to sign more than 150 documents from the public and private sectors on this occasion.' Since launching a dialogue framework with the five former Soviet republics in 2004, well before China, Russia, and the United States, Japan has held 10 meetings at the foreign minister level. Japan and the five countries adopted the 'Tokyo Declaration,' focusing on reducing carbon emissions, facilitating logistics services, and cooperating in human resource development.
