Kyrgyz delegation takes part in Senior Officials Meeting of Central Asia + Japan Dialogue

Bishkek, Nov. 27, 2018. /Kabar/. The 13th meeting of the Senior Officials of the countries participating in the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue was held in Tokyo on November 26-27, 2018, at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the participating countries. The Kyrgyz delegation was led by First Deputy Foreign Minister Dinara Kemelova, the press service of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Against the background of a positive impulse of strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia, the sides reaffirmed their interest in expanding cooperation in order to ensure stability and sustainable development of the region.

During the meeting, representatives of the countries participating in the Dialogue discussed the prospects for regional cooperation of the Central Asian states with Japan in the field of tourism, transport and logistics, agriculture, trade, investment, development, as well as regional security.

Considering the rapid development of innovative technologies of digital economy, Kemelova suggested that the Japanese side support projects in the field of the digital economy in Central Asia, in particular implementation of a project to develop a regional Central Asian data center in Kyrgyzstan.

The heads of the delegations met with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada, who noted the importance of Japan’s cooperation with Central Asia and its desire to support the development of the Central Asian region.

Kemelova reported on a new national strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2040 and called on the Japanese side to assist in the implementation of large-scale projects in Kyrgyzstan.

The Central Asia + Japan Dialogue was initiated by Japan in 2004. The main areas of cooperation are political dialogue, development of intraregional cooperation, business promotion, intellectual dialogue, cultural ties and human exchange. In the framework of the Dialogue, six meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the participating countries were held: 2004 in Astana, 2006 in Tokyo, 2010. in Tashkent, 2012 in Tokyo, 2014 Bishkek, 2017 in Ashgabat.