The sixth consultative meeting of Central Asian heads of state will take place in Astana, where participants will explore prospects for regional cooperation in areas such as economy, defense, transport, and food security. On the same day, Astana will host the first summit of the "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in attendance.
Expected to participate in the consultative meeting are Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will also join the discussions.
Ahead of the summit, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda published an article by Tokayev titled "Central Asia Renaissance: Toward Sustainable Development and Prosperity." In the article, Tokayev suggested that the Central Asian states discuss regional cooperation in various fields. He emphasized the need for defense policy and security cooperation amid the ongoing complex military and political situation in the region. Tokayev also highlighted the importance of creating a regional security framework, including a catalog of security risks and preventative measures.
Tokayev proposed that economic cooperation among Central Asian countries could become a major driver of growth for their national economies. He also stressed the need for coordinated measures to ensure food security, recommending the development of a strategic plan for food security in Central Asia until 2030 and the creation of a single information platform for data analysis and exchange. Furthermore, Tokayev noted the potential for the region to become a key transportation, logistics, and transit hub with the development of transport corridors.
In May 2024, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, expressed hope that the meeting would result in the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century, along with the adoption of the "Central Asia — 2040" regional cooperation strategy.
At the fourth consultative meeting in Kyrgyzstan in July 2022, Zhaparov, Tokayev, and Mirziyoyev signed the treaty, with Rahmon and Berdimuhamedov expected to sign after completing domestic procedures.
Since 2018, consultative meetings of Central Asian heads of state have aimed to deepen regional cooperation, with five such meetings held in various cities. Over the past five years, mutual trade among the Central Asian countries has increased from $5.7 billion to $11 billion, with Kazakhstan’s trade growing 26.8% last year to $8 billion.
Central Asia + Japan Summit
On August 9-10, Astana will also host the inaugural summit of the "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue, during which Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit. Bilateral talks between Kishida and Kazakhstan's leader are scheduled for August 10.
Alibek Tazhibayev, Director of Kazakhstan’s Center for Analytical Studies "Eurasian Monitoring," noted that Kishida's visit signifies Tokyo’s intention to enhance its position in the region. He suggested that while the visit might be seen as a strategy to counterbalance the influence of China and Russia, it could also reflect Japan’s broader economic interests and desire for mutually beneficial cooperation.
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Based on materials from TASS