Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 11 July, Tokyo hosted an international roundtable discussion titled "Uzbek-Japanese Expert Dialogue: Strategic Partnership in New Conditions." The event was organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) in collaboration with the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Parliament of Japan, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Bakhtiyor Mustafaev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISMI), speaking at the event, noted that the new dynamics of regional cooperation in Central Asia have contributed to the activation of Japan’s Central Asian foreign policy vector.

It was emphasized that thanks to the pragmatic foreign policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional cooperation in Central Asia is experiencing a new historical stage of development. As a result, the role of Central Asia in the international relations system is strengthened, countries in the region effectively cooperate in preventing regional challenges and threats, large-scale infrastructure projects in trade, transport, and energy sectors are being implemented, foreign direct investment volumes are increasing, and cooperation with international organizations is expanding. All this has led to increased interest from leading countries in the world towards the region.

At the same time, as noted by Mustafaev, Japan places great importance on the development of comprehensive and mutually beneficial relations with Central Asian countries. This is evidenced by the inclusion of the region in Japan’s "Blue Book on Diplomacy" for 2023 as one of the country’s key foreign policy priorities, as well as the upcoming Central Asia-Japan Summit.

"In turn, Central Asian countries view Japan as a strategically important partner contributing significantly to ensuring stability and sustainable development in the region," he emphasized. According to the expert, this position is conditioned by several key factors:

Firstly, since the early days of independence of the countries in the region, Japan has provided support for the development of the economies of Central Asian states within the framework of infrastructure projects and effective cooperation in international organizations and financial structures such as the OECD, EBRD, ADB, and CAREC.

Secondly, Tokyo’s policy towards the region is based on principles of equality, mutual respect, and consideration of mutual interests, without imposing unwarranted political conditions for cooperation.

Thirdly, taking into account the reforms being carried out in the countries of Central Asia aimed at modernizing the economy and transitioning to an innovative development path, Japan’s scientific and technological potential, which is considered one of the world’s leading, is of interest.

Fourthly, Japan was one of the first countries to view the region as a single entity. It was Japan that proposed the format of "Central Asia-Japan" as early as 2004.

Speaking about further development of interaction between Central Asian countries and Japan, Bakhtiyor Mustafaev highlighted several promising directions of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Firstly, against the backdrop of increasing challenges and threats of religious extremism and terrorism, joint efforts to find effective solutions to these dangerous phenomena become particularly relevant.

In May of this year, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, the Regional Expert Council (REC) on rehabilitation and reintegration in Central Asia was established, and its first meeting was held in Tashkent.

In this context, according to the expert, Japan’s support and participation in the implementation of projects and activities within the framework of the REC will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the efforts of the region’s countries in rehabilitation and reintegration.

Secondly, according to the ISMI deputy director, partnership in the field of critically important mineral resources is promising. Central Asia holds 39% of the world’s manganese ore reserves, 31% of chromium, 20% of lead, 13% of zinc, and 9% of titanium. Cooperation with Central Asian countries will allow Japan to diversify sources of raw materials and prevent disruptions in supply chains. According to open sources, in 2022 alone, Japan imported rare-earth metals worth $628 million.

"Thus, attracting quality investments and modern technologies from Japan in the deep processing of the resource base with the creation of a full value-added chain will be an important factor in ensuring the region’s development ahead of the curve," the expert emphasized.

Thirdly, according to the expert, interaction in the formation of a branched transport and communication system is crucial. The expert referred to UN estimates, according to which, by 2050, demand for freight transport in the world will triple. In his opinion, such a trend is a direct challenge for Central Asian countries that do not have access to the sea, through which today more than 80% of the world’s trade volume is conducted.

In this regard, as noted by B. Mustafaev, close cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan in the construction and modernization of railways and highways, as well as the digitization of customs posts with modern technologies and the creation of logistics centers, will unlock the transport-transit potential of Central Asia, located at the "crossroads" of Europe and Asia.

Fourthly, as the expert pointed out, Central Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to the negative consequences of climate change. In particular, according to World Bank estimates, if by the end of the 21st century, with the current pace, the average global temperature increases by 4 degrees Celsius, in Central Asia it will rise by 7 degrees. 

"As a result, 300 high-mountain lakes continue to be at risk of breakthrough. According to specialists’ calculations, with an increase in the average annual temperature by 2-4 degrees, the volume of mountain glaciers in Central Asia may decrease by up to 78%," added the ISMI deputy director.

Taking into account the above, according to B. Mustafaev, the provision of Japan’s technology in the field of energy efficiency and water conservation will contribute to strengthening the region’s sustainability in green energy. Moreover, Japan’s experience in developing applications using radar satellites for monitoring natural disasters, as well as strict seismic resistance standards in construction, is of high interest.

Fifthly, the expert called for the implementation of projects to reduce poverty. Today, Central Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world in terms of demographics. From this perspective, noted B. Mustafaev, the creation of new jobs is of high interest. According to him, it is important to continue the implementation of the "One Village, One Product" program with the assistance of JICA. Within the framework of this project during the period of 2017-2022 in Kyrgyzstan, 280 products were developed, 3,000 jobs were created, and 167 export contracts worth $238 million were concluded.

In conclusion, B. Mustafaev noted that assessments by many observers that all economic niches in Central Asia are already occupied do not correspond to reality.

Thanks to the new dynamics of regional cooperation, Central Asia today is open to equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with all countries of the world.