Press Releases
The Second Japan-Uzbekistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue and working dinner
September 18, 2026
On September 18, commencing at 6:10 p.m. for approximately 2 hours, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held the Second Japan-Uzbekistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue and working dinner with H.E. Mr. Bakhtiyor SAIDOV, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. On this occasion both sides signed the Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2027-2028.
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI expressed his pleasure at welcoming Minister Saidov to Tokyo and holding the Second Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Furthermore, Minister Motegi, noting that cooperation between the two countries has been steadily progressing, including through the Summit of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD) held last December and the bilateral summit meeting on that occasion, expressed his willingness to hold meaningful discussions to further develop relations with Uzbekistan, an important strategic partner in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Minister Saidov, commending the outcomes of last year’s visit of the President Mirziyoyev to Japan, stated that he hoped to strengthen cooperation with Japan, a reliable strategic partner, across a wide range of areas through the Second Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
- Minister MOTEGI, noting that there is great potential for cooperation with Uzbekistan, a country experiencing remarkable economic and population growth, expressed his willingness to further advance cooperation in areas such as business, critical minerals, AI, and the facilitation of the "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route." In response, Minister Saidov expressed gratitude for Japan’s support to date for Uzbekistan’s economic and social reform and stated that economic exchanges between the two countries are actively taking place, and that he would like to further develop these exchanges. Minister Saidov also expressed his willingness to broaden the scope of people-to-people exchanges. Both sides, reaffirming the importance of people-to-people exchanges, concurred to cooperate toward resolving the various issues surrounding them. Furthermore, both sides concurred to closely cooperate toward the next year’s 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
- Minister MOTEGI explained the updated concept of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and Minister Saidov pointed out that openness and dialogues are important for peace and stability of the region and the international society.
- Both sides also exchanged views on a range of regional issues, such as the situation in the Indo-Pacific including responses to North Korea, the Middle East and Ukraine, and concurred to continue close cooperation in international arena.