Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov, Foreign Minister of Japan Katsuya Okada, State Secretary, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbayev, Foreign Minister of Hamrohon Zarifi and Ambassador of Turkmenistan Soltan Pirmuhamedov participated in the event.

The ministers summed up the results of the implementation of the Plan of Actions adopted in 2006 at the second foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo. They considered issues of strengthening peace and stability, and economic development in Central Asia. The sides outlined priority directions of development of regional cooperation in partnership with Japan, as well as integration of the Central Asian states in the world economy.

The meeting participants paid particular attention to cooperation in eliminating such threats as terrorism, extremism and drug traffic in the region. They exchanged opinions on increasing the efficiency of state border control and joint participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan using the potential of Japan and the Central Asian countries.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as importance of increasing nuclear security of the region. In this regard, Japan welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement on creation of nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia, adopted on the initiative of the President Islam Karimov, in 2009 after its ratification by all countries of the region. The Japanese side also expressed hope that all stakeholders, including nuclear states, will hold a corresponding meeting in the nearest future so that the treaty effectively served its purpose.

Other issues considered by the foreign ministers were environmental rehabilitation of the Aral Sea region, rational use of water and energy resources and transport infrastructure, as well as wide introduction of renewable energy sources. In participants’ opinion, among important tasks of cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan are development and implementation of medium and long term programs in areas like creation of modern transportation and communication networks, introduction of new and modernization of existing production capacities in industry and agriculture, as well as ecology and health. Japan’s experience and opportunities could play an important role in their realization. Translating these objectives into reality will contribute to the sustainable development of all countries in the region, the participants said.

The Japanese side proposed holding a Japanese-Central Asian economic forum with the purpose of expansion of trade, economic and investment partnership. The meeting participants approved this proposal. The forum will be held in Japan in 2011.