Japan-Turkmenistan Relations
Prime Minister Abe Visits Turkmenistan
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
1. Itinerary of the visit
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan
Luncheon with economic mission
Offering of a floral tribute and tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan.
Viewing of Akhal-Teke horses
Meeting with economic mission
Business forum
Ceremony for the awarding of an honorary professor at the Mahtumkuli Turkmen State University
Dinner hosted by President Berdimuhamedov
2. Overview of main events
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
(1) Summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan (Announcement of a Japan-Turkmenistan Joint Statement following the meeting)
On October 23, commencing at 9:05 a.m. local time until 11:15 a.m., Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was on an official visit to Turkmenistan, held a summit meeting that ran for over two hours with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan.
This summit meeting was the third occasion for Prime Minister Abe to hold talks with President Berdimuhamedov. The initial talks lasted for approximately 80 minutes, comprising a meeting of a small group of relevant persons. It was followed by a larger meeting, which ran for approximately 45 minutes.
I Bilateral relations
(i) General Remarks
Prime Minister Abe first stated that he is the first Prime Minister of Japan to visit Turkmenistan, and then expressed his congratulations on the 20th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan.
Prime Minister Abe indicated his intention to dispatch an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to Turkmenistan in 2016, and welcomed the reciprocal exemption of diplomatic and official visas between the two countries.
(ii) Economy
President Berdimuhamedov highly appraised the activities of Japanese corporations in Turkmenistan, and welcomed the further initiatives of Japanese companies there in the future. President Berdimuhamedov also commented on the development in the area of distribution and logistics, as well as raising the level of economic activity to correspond with the untapped potential amount of trade between the two countries.
Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for the anticipated further activities of Japanese corporations in facilitating the sophistication of Turkmenistan’s industries, and welcomed the signing of agreements totaling 2.2 trillion yen in business dealings, on the occasion of this visit.
(iii) Human resources development
Prime Minister Abe outlined the Japanese Government’s intent to utilize technical colleges and other institutions of Japanese education in engineering to assist Turkmenistan in the training and development of human resources in advanced industries. Prime Minister Abe also welcomed the progression in preparation for establishing Japanese-style engineering colleges in Turkmenistan, with the involvement of relevant parties of Japan’s academia.
(iv) People and cultural exchanges
Prime Minister Abe expressed his intent to promote people and cultural exchanges through actively implementing a range of sports programs such as judo, as well as in the areas of Japanese language education and visual contents, so as to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries. Prime Minister Abe also outlined the short-term exchange programme MIRAI, which will select 10 youths from Turkmenistan to join other youths from Europe and Central Asia in visiting Japan.
II Cooperation on regional issues
(i) General Remarks
Prime Minister Abe indicated that Japan will cooperate in facilitating the diplomatic talks known as the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, which will be held in Turkmenistan in 2016. Both leaders highlighted the importance of anti-terrorism measures, counter narcotics, and border control.
(ii) Prime Minister Abe commented on the problem of transport and logistics, which is a key issue to address in regard to regional development, and invited the Turkmen Minister of Railway Transport, Mr. Bayram Annameredov, to visit Japan within this year.
III Regional affairs
(i) The two leaders exchanged opinions on regional affairs such as Afghanistan, ISIL, and Iran.
(ii) In regard to North Korea, Prime Minister Abe stated that the country is blatantly violating the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution by continuing to develop nuclear weapons and missiles, and that the international society should work together in calling on North Korea to restrain its provocative actions and strictly observe the UN Security Council Resolution. Prime Minister Abe also stated that the North Korea abduction issue is a high priority for Japan, and expressed his hope for the understanding and cooperation of Turkmenistan in working toward an early resolution, while also requesting support for the North Korea human rights resolution.
IV Cooperation in the global arena
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
(i) General Remarks
Prime Minister Abe indicated that Japan will make further contributions to the peace and stability of the international society, from the position of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” and also based on the recently enacted “Legislation for Peace and Security”. Prime Minister Abe called for support of Japan’s efforts in this area.
(ii) United Nations
Prime Minister Abe stated that it is important to realize an early start to intergovernmental negotiations based on written agreements, so as to obtain specific outcomes of the reforms of the UN Security Council during the current session of the UN General Assembly. Prime Minister Abe also called for the active support and participation of Turkmenistan in regard to this.
(iii) World Tsunami Day
Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation to Turkmenistan for their decision to become a cosponsor of the proposal for a UN General Assembly Resolution on designating November 5 as “World Tsunami Day”.
(iv) Disarmament and non-proliferation
President Berdimuhamedov appraised the activities of Japan in the area of disarmament and their support of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ).
(2) Luncheon with economic mission
On October 23, commencing at 12:10 p.m. local time (October 23 at 4:10 p.m., Japan time) for approximately 15 minutes, Prime Minister Abe held a luncheon with an accompanying economic mission on this visit and relevant parties from Japanese corporations in Turkmenistan, among other attendees.
At the luncheon, Prime Minister Abe commented on the remarkable economic growth of Turkmenistan and the country’s positive sentiment toward Japan, while highlighting its high expectations of Japan in regard to technology and experience.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe indicated that the Japanese Government will also provide full cooperation with the activities of Japanese private organizations in Turkmenistan, from the perspective of strengthening bilateral relations.
(3) Meeting with economic mission
On October 23, commencing at 4:55 p.m. local time (October 23 at 8:55 p.m., Japan time) for approximately 30 minutes, Prime Minister Abe and President Berdimuhamedov attended a meeting with an accompanying economic mission on this visit.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Abe mentioned the advancement of bilateral relations in a range of fields, which was facilitated by President Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Japan in 2013, highlighting in particular the importance of economic relations.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe directly introduced representatives from Japan’s financial and other circles to President Berdimuhamedov, and informed President Berdimuhamedov of the Government of Japan’s stance of also actively backing cooperation in the private sector.
(4) Business forum
(i) On October 23, commencing at 5:30 p.m. local time (October 23 at 9:30 p.m., Japan time) for approximately 45 minutes, Prime Minister Abe attended the Japan-Turkmenistan Business Forum hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan-Turkmenistan Economic Committee (Secretariat: Japan Association for Trade with Russia and NIS (ROTOBO)).
(ii) In his greeting, Prime Minister Abe commented on the importance of Turkmenistan, which has the world’s second largest reserves of gas fields, while also noting the remarkable progress in economic cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe outlined advancements made in a variety of business dealings totaling over $18 billion, and expressed his hope to further strengthen Japan-Turkmenistan relations in a wide range of fields.
(iii) This Forum was attended by President Berdimuhamedov and also relevant parties from the public and private economic sectors of both countries. The attendees engaged in a lively exchange of opinions on enhancing Japan-Turkmenistan economic relations.
(5) Dinner hosted by President Berdimuhamedov and tea ceremony
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
(i) On October 23, commencing at 7:27 p.m. local time (October 23 at 11:27 p.m., Japan time) for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, Prime Minister Abe attended a dinner hosted by President Berdimuhamedov at the Presidential Palace. The dinner started with a speech and toast led by President Berdimuhamedov. Prime Minister Abe then commented on how President Berdimuhamedov has visited Japan twice in the past two years, and that this visit to Turkmenistan is the first stop in his tour of five nations in Central Asia, which is the first-ever such tour by a Prime Minister of Japan. Prime Minister Abe also stated he is confident that this visit, which also has an accompanying economic mission from Japan’s financial circles, will achieve dramatic progress in bilateral relations. The dinner then continued and concluded in a genial and harmonious atmosphere.
(ii) Following the dinner, commencing at 9:02 p.m. local time (October 24 at 1:02 a.m., Japan time) for approximately 50 minutes, Prime Minister Abe attended a tea ceremony hosted by President Berdimuhamedov. The tea ceremony was held in a traditional tent-style residence (yurt) at the Presidential Palace.