DUSHANBE, 20.05.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – The 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue was held on May 18 in Dushanbe under the chairmanship of Tajikistan.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Kazakhstan Beibut Atamkulov, Kyrgyz Republic Chingiz Aidarbekov, Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Japan Taro Kono and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Khadjiev took part in the meeting. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani attended the meeting as the guest of honor.

The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, as part of the meeting, received the foreign ministers.

During the meeting three sessions were held on practical cooperation of the countries participating in the Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue in the field of tourism, cooperation of the countries participating in the Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue in the areas of trade, investment and development, and regional security and regional cooperation in Central Asia.

The officials signed a joing statement following the meeting, followed by a press conference.

In 2004, Japan initiated a new format of cooperation with the Central Asian countries (Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue) in order to expand and strengthen closer ties between the countries of the region and Japan, as well as to develop regional cooperation.

Over the years, the dialogue has proved itself as a reliable platform for establishing practical interaction and cooperation between Japan and Central Asia.