Japan–Central Asia Summit Expected in Tokyo on Dec. 19–20

Himasha Dissanayake, JadeTimes Staff

H. Dissanayake is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

---

Image Source: Nippon.Com

The Japanese government is preparing to host a Japan–Central Asia Summit in Tokyo on December 19–20, bringing together leaders from five Central Asian nations in an effort to deepen regional engagement and strengthen diplomatic cooperation.

According to government sources, bilateral meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and each visiting Central Asian leader are also under consideration as part of the two-day agenda. The move underscores Japan’s renewed focus on building strategic partnerships in a region where major global powers are increasingly active.

Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, disclosed the upcoming summit plans during a general meeting of LDP lawmakers dedicated to promoting friendship with Central Asian countries. He emphasized the significance of the initiative, noting that Russia, China, the United States and others have all engaged in similar high-level summits with Central Asian nations in recent months.

“In the past six months or so, Russia, China, the United States and other countries have held summits with Central Asian nations,” Aso said. “It is extremely important from a diplomatic point of view that Japan will also hold such summits successfully.”

A previous Japan–Central Asia summit was slated for August last year in Kazakhstan, but the meeting was canceled when the government of then–Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shifted its focus to responding to emergency warnings about the risk of a potential megaquake in the Nankai Trough.

If finalized, the December summit will mark a significant step in Japan’s ongoing strategy to enhance its presence and influence across Central Asia.