Japan-Kazakhstan Relations
Attendance of Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI to Awarding Ceremony of the Order of Friendship of Republic of Kazakhstan for the former Minister for Foreign Affairs KAWAGUCHI
April 24, 2026
On April 23, Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended an awarding ceremony of the Order of Friendship (Dostyq) of Republic of Kazakhstan for Ms. KAWAGUCHI Yoriko, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs held in the residence of the Ambassador of Republic of Kazakhstan and delivered a speech. The overview is as follows:
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI extended congratulations on the awarding of the Order of Friendship (Dostyq) of Republic of Kazakhstan to the former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. KAWAGUCHI Yoriko for her contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Japan and Kazakhstan.
- Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI stated that the framework of “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue founded by the former Minster for Foreign Affairs Ms. Kawaguchi with President of Kazakhstan Tokayev, who was Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2004, has developed and the first Summit of “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue has been successfully held in December last year. Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI expressed her readiness to further enhance the bilateral relations.
(Reference) "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD)
- From the perspective that regional cooperation aimed at solving common regional issues is essential for the stability and development of Central Asia, Japan established this dialogue framework in 2004 to promote such regional cooperation (the first Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Kazakhstan in August of the same year).
- Under this dialogue framework, Foreign Ministers' meetings have been held 10 times so far, including online formats. Additionally, various discussions have been conducted with the participation of experts and business representatives in sector-specific Experts’ Meetings and public symposiums such as the "Tokyo Dialogue."