Kyrgyzstan and Japan Sign Cooperation Documents Across Multiple Sectors, Ushering in a New Stage of Economic Cooperation Between Central Asia and Japan

President Sadyr Japarov and the Japanese Prime Minister stood side-by-side, with a signing ceremony symbolizing bilateral cooperation taking place behind them. Approximately 300 business representatives witnessed this moment.

On December 20, 2025, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended the launch ceremony of bilateral documents within the framework of the "Central Asia + Japan" Business Forum in Tokyo. The forum attracted approximately 300 business representatives from Central Asian countries and Japan, covering a wide range of sectors including industry, energy, transportation and logistics, finance, IT, healthcare, agriculture, education, and high technology.

The forum agenda focused on priority areas of cooperation such as sustainable development, the green economy, digitalization, IT industry development, and human capital and education. The bilateral document signing ceremony at the end of the event witnessed the signing of as many as 18 cooperation documents between Kyrgyz and Japanese government agencies and business entities, marking a new stage in bilateral cooperation.

01. Extensive Coverage of Agreements Across Multiple Fields

According to the Kyrgyz Presidential Press Service, the signed cooperation documents cover multiple fields, including economy, energy, healthcare, education, and cultural exchange.

In the energy sector, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy and Muru Systems signed a roadmap for the implementation of the Chom-Kmin River small hydropower station project. Simultaneously, the Kyrgyz National Grid Company and Muru Systems also signed a power purchase agreement.

In healthcare cooperation, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health signed a memorandum of understanding with relevant national hospitals regarding the planning and establishment of advanced emergency and intensive care centers modeled after the Kitahara model in Japan.

Education was a key area of cooperation, with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education signing cooperation documents with several Japanese companies, including memorandums of understanding with Sprex Corporation, Fujifilm Systems Services Ltd., Digital Knowledge Ltd., and Gakken Holdings Ltd. Furthermore, a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed regarding the establishment and management of the Kyrgyz-Japan Digital University.

02. Historical Background and Strategic Positioning

Cooperation between Japan and Central Asian countries is not a new phenomenon. As early as 1997, the Hashimoto Cabinet of Japan proposed the "Silk Road Diplomacy" concept targeting Central Asia and the Caucasus region. In 2004, Japan promoted the establishment of a "Japan + Central Asia" foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism, becoming one of the earliest non-regional countries to engage with the five Central Asian countries as a whole.

This summit reflects Japan's continued focus on the Central Asian region. In November 2023, during a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Kyrgyz President Japarov, both sides confirmed their cooperation in facilitating a summit of leaders from Japan and the five Central Asian countries in 2024.

Japan's diplomatic strategy towards Central Asia emphasizes long-term institutional relationships. Japan is viewed as a politically neutral, non-conflicting partner in Central Asia, not seeking military or ideological dominance. Instead, Tokyo tends to focus on long-term institutional relationships, talent development, and technological cooperation.

03 Geoeconomic Considerations and Regional Connectivity

From a geoeconomic perspective, Japan's interest in Central Asia stems in part from its focus on key mineral supply chains. Central Asia boasts abundant resources, including rich reserves of oil and natural gas, and crucial mineral resources such as rare earth elements that Japan urgently needs.

Regarding logistics infrastructure development, Kyodo News reported that in March of this year, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism launched tests of new international logistics routes between Japan and Europe, and Japan and the United States. The new Japan-Europe route departs from ports on the Sea of ​​Japan side, passing through China, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and Turkey, utilizing ships and railways to reach Europe.

The Nikkei predicts that constructing a "Caspian Sea route" bypassing the Russian transport network will become a key issue in Japan-Central Asia cooperation. This route aims to create a logistics corridor connecting Central Asia and Europe without passing through Russia, providing an alternative to logistics networks such as the China-Europe Railway Express, which is dominated by China.

04. Central Asian Countries' Diversified and Balanced Diplomatic Strategy

For Central Asian countries, cooperation with Japan reflects their diversified and balanced diplomatic policy. The Central Asian region is continuously expanding its range of partners, from the EU and the US to China, Japan, and South Korea.

In 2023, Kyrgyz President Japarov, responding to Japanese media attempts to sow discord between China and Kyrgyzstan, explicitly stated, "Kyrgyzstan needs the Belt and Road Initiative; it has transformed Kyrgyzstan from a landlocked country into a transit country." He even pointed out that Kyrgyzstan could import goods from Japan via the Belt and Road railway.

Central Asian countries, when cooperating with Japan, focus more on tangible economic benefits and technology transfer. For Kyrgyzstan, key areas of cooperation with Japan include renewable energy and water resources, ecotourism and sustainable tourism, and human capital and education. Japan's "One Village, One Product" program in Kyrgyzstan covers 29 production teams around Lake Issyk-Kul, totaling 250 people, increasing local employment and raising residents' income levels.

05 Cooperation Prospects and Potential Challenges

Cooperation between Japan and Kyrgyzstan faces some structural challenges. Geographically, Japan is thousands of kilometers away from Central Asia, with no land connection or convenient sea routes, resulting in high logistics costs and low efficiency.

In terms of economic cooperation, Japanese companies have historically maintained a cautious approach to the Central Asian market. Significant differences exist among Central Asian countries in terms of investment environment, rule of law, and infrastructure, raising questions about the feasibility of cooperation projects promoted by the Japanese government.

Politically, Japan's intention to tie economic cooperation to politics, pursuing an exclusive diplomacy of "de-Sinicization" and "de-Russification," clashes with the diversified and balanced diplomatic strategies pursued by Central Asian countries. These countries prefer to avoid involvement in great power confrontations and maintain neutrality among them.

Nevertheless, Japan's technological advantages in high-end manufacturing, energy conservation and environmental protection, artificial intelligence, and healthcare complement the development needs of Central Asian countries. This complementarity provides a solid foundation for future cooperation.

With the signing of a series of cooperation documents between Japan and Central Asian countries in Tokyo, the geoeconomic landscape of Eurasia is quietly shifting. Cooperation projects between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Kyrgyzstan in energy, education, and healthcare have brought Japanese technology and experience to Kyrgyzstan.

For Central Asian countries, Japan's involvement may bring more cooperation options, but China's economic driving force and Russia's security guarantee function remain the priority for their foreign cooperation. The future interactions between major powers in Central Asia will be more complex, but the core logic of the regional landscape will not fundamentally change due to Japan's presence.