Japan-Kazakhstan Relations
Japan-Kazakhstan Summit Meeting
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On November 7, commencing at 6:23 p.m. until 7:18 p.m., Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting and banquet with H.E. Mr. Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who is making an official working visit to Japan. The overview is as follows.
1. Bilateral relations
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(1) Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Nazarbayev’s first visit to Japan in eight years and explained that Japan places importance on its relationship with Kazakhstan from the standpoints of the geopolitical significance of Kazakhstan, which is located in the center of Eurasia, Kazakhstan’s abundant energy resources, and cooperation in the international arena, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the field of disarmament and nonproliferation. Prime Minister Abe also stated that he hopes to foster major advances in Japan-Kazakhstan relations in the future as well.
(2) President Nazarbayev explained EXPO-2017 Astana, which is taking place next year, and expressed his hope that bilateral relations will advance in fields such as nuclear power, mineral resources development, finance, transportation and logistics, agriculture, education, and medicine.
(3) With regard to bilateral economic cooperation, Prime Minister Abe explained that in order to develop the trade and investment relationship between the two countries, further improvement in Kazakhstan’s investment environment is required. The two sides shared the view that a locally-based consultative framework will be set up for that purpose.
2. Cooperation on the global stage
(1) Prime Minister Abe extended his congratulations on Kazakhstan becoming the first Central Asian country to be elected to the UNSC, and both leaders shared the view that Japan and Kazakhstan will work closely together as fellow UNSC members elected from Asia.
(2) Additionally, Prime Minister Abe mentioned the importance of UNSC reform and expressed his gratitude for Kazakhstan’s consistent support for Japan becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.
(3) In response, President Nazarbayev also stated that he hopes to promote cooperation in the UNSC and the field of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, and the two leaders shared the view that they will continue to work together to realize a world without nuclear weapons.
3. Regional affairs
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
The two leaders exchanged views on regional affairs, including the situation in Central Asia, maritime security, and the situation in North Korea. In particular, Prime Minister Abe stated that the adoption of a new UNSC resolution and the strict fulfillment of UNSC resolutions will further increase pressure on North Korea, and both leaders shared the view that Japan and Kazakhstan will continue to work together in relation to North Korea, which poses an unprecedented level of threat, towards resolving outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions issue, and the nuclear and missile issues.
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Afterwards, Prime Minister Abe hosted a banquet that was attended by leaders from various sectors with a connection to Japan-Kazakhstan relations, and the Japanese wadaiko drum group TAO also performed. The banquet was held in a friendly atmosphere.