NEWS
President of Turkmenistan takes part in the First Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Summit
On 20 December 2025, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as part of a working visit to Japan, took part in the first Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Summit.
At the venue of the Summit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly welcomed by the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi. The Head of State and the Head of the Government of Japan posed for a joint photograph.
The first Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Summit was then held against the backdrop of the national flags.
Opening the high-level meeting, Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi thanked the participants for accepting the invitations, noting that Japan recognizes the important role of Central Asia as a stable and dynamically developing region. It was also emphasized that the countries of Central Asia are key partners of Japan.
The floor was then given to the Summit participants.
At the beginning of his speech, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for its hospitality, noting that Turkmenistan views today’s meeting as an important stage in a qualitative and substantive renewal of relations between the countries of Central Asia and Japan, taking into account the current global geo-economic and political situation, as well as the growing role of Asia as a center of global development.
In this context, hope was expressed that the Central Asia–Japan Dialogue summits would be held on a regular basis.
For Turkmenistan, this format of interaction is of particular importance and constitutes an integral part of its foreign policy and economic strategy, in which Japan occupies a worthy place as one of the leaders of the global economy and an authoritative and reliable member of the international community.
“We advocate further expansion of ties between Central Asia and Japan,” the Head of State said, emphasizing that special importance is attached to economic and investment partnership, while the active participation of Japanese business in the development of the region is an unconditional priority of our cooperation.
In this context, it was noted that for many years Turkmenistan has been effectively cooperating with well-known Japanese companies in the gas sector, chemical industry, electric power generation, transport, and water management.
The countries of Central Asia possess significant potential for cooperation with Japan, and our common task is to make maximum use of the advantages of all Dialogue participants.
One of such areas is green transformation. Turkmenistan pays close attention to Japanese initiatives in the field of green energy and sustainable development. Turkmenistan is consistently implementing a course aimed at energy conservation, reduction of methane emissions, and the introduction of alternative and renewable energy sources, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said, placing particular emphasis on hydrogen energy.
In this context, the President of Turkmenistan stressed the expediency of developing common approaches within the Dialogue to the transition to green development in Central Asia as part of global efforts to ensure sustainable development.
We consider it important to develop cooperation on climate change issues, including support for initiatives to establish specialized centers in the region, in particular the Regional Center for Climate Technologies in Central Asia. In this matter, cooperation with Japan is of special significance, the President of Turkmenistan continued.
Speaking about connectivity, the Head of State emphasized that Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the development of transport and transit connectivity.
It was also underscored that the development of human potential is an important area. Turkmenistan attaches special importance to educational cooperation with Japan, including the study of the Japanese language, which today involves thousands of students and schoolchildren in the country.
In this regard, the Head of State announced Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish a Central Asia–Japan Youth Forum with the aim of developing interaction among young people, students, and academic circles.
In addition, it was proposed to establish a permanent platform, the Central Asia–Japan Women’s Dialogue.
Noting the special role of open and constructive international cooperation under current conditions, the Head of State particularly emphasized the significance of the large International Forum held on 12 December of this year in Ashgabat, dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutral status.
Stating that a determining factor is adherence to the principles of the rule of international law, as well as increasing the effectiveness of the practical implementation of United Nations conventions, treaties, agreements, and other multilateral documents, the Head of State appealed to the Summit participants to support Turkmenistan’s initiative to declare 2028 the Year of International Law.
Turkmenistan also attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation in such important areas as nuclear non-proliferation, the prohibition of all types of nuclear tests, and ensuring a disarmament regime.
In conclusion, the Head of State expressed confidence that the Central Asia–Japan Dialogue meets the long-term interests of our peoples and is capable of becoming an important factor in the formation of sustainable and effective mechanisms of international cooperation.
The Prime Minister of Japan expressed her gratitude to the Head of Turkmenistan for his deeply substantive speech and the constructive proposals put forward.
During the Summit, the participants also discussed issues of strengthening sustainable energy supply systems, developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, introducing artificial intelligence technologies in industry and other sectors, attracting investment in hydrogen energy technologies in Central Asia, as well as expanding cultural and academic exchanges.
As a result of the meeting, the Tokyo Declaration of the Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Summit and a Joint Ministerial Statement on economic and energy issues were adopted.
On the same day, the heads of delegations participating in the Summit also took part in a plenary session of the Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Business Council.
This was followed by a signing ceremony of bilateral documents during the plenary session.
As part of the Business Council’s work, thematic sessions were also held on green energy and sustainability, digital transformation and connectivity, and the role of finance, human capital, and the social sphere in business development.
From the Turkmen side, the Forum was attended by heads of relevant government bodies, as well as a representative delegation of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.
Upon completion of the working visit program to Japan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, from where he departed for his homeland.
As part of the working visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, bilateral meetings were held between members of the Turkmen delegation and representatives of Japan.