"Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue
Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting
(Overview)

August 7, 2010

The Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting within the framework of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Tuesday, August 7. The meeting lasted for approximately two hours. An overview of the results of the meeting is provided below.
(Mr. Vladimir Norov, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, chaired the meeting. From Japan, Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs attended.)

1. Opening
   1. (1) Foreign Minister Norov, the chair of the meeting, made a report on each country's progress regarding the "Action Plan" adopted at the Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting and each foreign minister confirmed the report.
   2. (2) Foreign Minister Okada stated that he welcomed that the Foreign Ministers' Meeting was being held for the first time in four years. He expressed the understanding that, as a focal point of Eurasia, long-term self-sustaining development and maintenance of peace and stability as an open region will be in the interest of Eurasia as a whole. He expressed that Japan will announced Japan's policy of actively support these endeavors.
2. Each country's efforts for regional peace and stability, and cooperation among them
   1. (1) Terrorism, narcotics

      Each participant pointed out that threats of terrorism and narcotics still existed in Central Asia, and exchanged various views concerning measures to eliminate such threats. Foreign Minister Okada stated that Japan would continue its support for the improvement of border-control capacities in Central Asia so as to prevent the inflow of threats such as terrorism and narcotics from outside the region.

   2. (2) Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia

      The participants held up the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, coming into force in 2009, as an example of an effort by countries in the region for stability in Central Asia. Welcoming this, Foreign Minister Okada expressed hope for the early advancement of talks among countries concerned, including nuclear weapon states.

   3. (3) Recent Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic

      Each participant made a reference to the unstable situation in the Kyrgyz Republic, which had been perpetuated since April 2010, as well as the ethnic clashes in the Southern area of the Kyrgyz Republic in June, and indicated that the reconstruction of the Kyrgyz Republic was vital for the peace and stability of the entire region. In response, the representative of the Kyrgyz Republic expressed appreciation for the various kinds of assistance made by each country thus far.

   4. (4) Situation in Afghanistan

      Each participant once again expressed their common understanding that the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan, neighboring Central Asia, was essential for securing the peace and stability of the region.

3. Each country's effort for regional economic development and prosperity, and cooperation among them
   1. (1) Development of commodity distribution and transportation infrastructures

      Each participant stressed the scale of significance that the formation of transport corridors through the development of infrastructures, such as roads and railways, plays in the development of Central Asia. In response, Foreign Minister Okada indicated that strengthened intra-regional cooperation and coordination with economic zones outside the region were important for Central Asia to prosper as one, and announced Japan would continue its policy of assistance for the development of logistical distribution infrastructures which connect north and south Central Asia.

   2. (2) Promotion of economic exchanges between Japan and Central Asia

      Foreign Minister Okada proposed to convene a "Japan-Central Asia Economic Forum" in Tokyo by March 2011, in which government officials from the five Central Asian countries would be invited and which would also be attended by Japanese business people and experts, based on the understanding that the development of business environments in Central Asia and informing Japanese companies of such endeavors were important for the promotion of trade and investment between Japan and Central Asia. Participating countries welcomed the proposal.

4. Cooperation for environment preservation and sustainable development
   1. (1) The environment, climate change

      Each participating country pointed out the importance of cooperation to resolve regional environment issues, including issues concerning the Aral Sea. They also confirmed the necessity of joint efforts to tackle regional issues which stemmed from climate change, including the issue of glacial lakes. In response, Foreign Minister Okada announced Japan's policy of supporting the introduction of renewable energy sources with low environmental load which could promote sustainable development in the region.

   2. (2) Rational use of water resources

      Participating countries pointed out that each Central Asian country, whether upstream or downstream, must cooperate to resolve issues concerning rational and efficient use of water resources.

5. Host nation of the next Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM)

   Each participating countries confirmed that the next Foreign Ministers' Meeting would be held in Japan. They also agreed to hold a Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) annually as a regular meeting forum for the countries participating in Foreign Ministers' Meetings, and confirmed that the next one to be held in Japan.