DUSHANBE, August 9, 2010, Asia-Plus — The third session of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue that took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last Saturday (August 7) confirmed the importance of seeking ways to jointly address common problems and promote cooperation to ensure stability and prosperity in the region, regional media report.
The meeting participants – Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov, Foreign Minister of Japan Katsuya Okada, Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Hamrokhon Zarifi and the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan Sultan Pirmuhamedov — discussed issues related to cooperation between Central Asia and Japan and implementation of the plan of actions of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue. They also considered issues related to enhancement of the welfare of the population of the region, combating extremism, drug trafficking, environmental rehabilitation of the Aral Sea region, cooperation in the fields of transportation, energy, as well as providing regional security.
The meeting participants were unanimous about the need for continuous dialogue between the countries to resolve the various threats from outside, and common regional problems. Given the importance of stabilizing the situation in Kyrgyzstan, they expressed their intention to continue the necessary assistance to that country. They also exchanged views on enhancing border control, joint participation in reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy with use of potential and opportunities of Central Asia and Japan.
In the meantime, The Japan Online reported on August 9 that Japan pledged increased assistance for Central Asia ranging from antiterrorism measures to infrastructure development for goods distribution when foreign ministers from Tokyo and the region gathered Saturday in the Uzbek capital.
“The development of Central Asia in an open way is a common good for all of Eurasia,” Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said at the outset of the third “Central Asia plus Japan” dialogue meeting. “The Japanese government, now led by the Democratic Party of Japan following the change of power, intends to continue proactively supporting” the region, he said.
Okada said Saturday during the dialogue meeting that Tokyo will step up its assistance for the region in preventing the entry of radical extremists and narcotic drugs from Afghanistan.
Japan will help the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan strengthen their border controls by holding a seminar to train personnel on measures to cope with terrorism and illegal drugs.
Okada also proposed holding an economic forum meeting in Tokyo by March 31, to be attended by government officials from Japan and Central Asia, to encourage more Japanese companies to branch out to the region.
The participants of the six-way talks agreed to hold the next meeting in Japan in 2012.
On Saturday, Okada also held talks with his Tajik counterpart Hamrokhon Zarifi and asked for cooperation with Japan”s bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. Zarifi said Tajikistan will continue to support the bid, Japanese officials said. Okada also promised to assist Tajikistan in removing antipersonnel land mines left in southern parts of the country, The Japan Time Online said.
The Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue is a political initiative between Japan and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with the goal to create “a new framework for cooperation, thereby elevating relations between Japan and Central Asia to a new level”.
The dialogue, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, is also meant to serve as a forum to promote inter-regional cooperation.
Turkmenistan, maintaining its policy of neutrality, participates only as an observer.
The dialogue was formally declared on August 28, 2004 in Astana, 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 joint statement also outlined several areas of potential Japanese-Central Asian cooperation.
Japan”s efforts to create the “Central Asia plus Japan” dialogue are 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.
