[Title] Joint Statement on the Meeting between Prime Minister of Japan TAKAICHI Sanae and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr ZHAPAROV on Further Development of Relations between Japan and the Kyrgyz Republic to Co-create Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

On 20 December, 2025, in Tokyo, on the occasion of the first Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue, an official meeting was held between Prime Minister of Japan TAKAICHI Sanae and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr ZHAPAROV.

Both sides affirmed the importance of mutual cooperation as partners in maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on key issues of bilateral cooperation, expressed mutual satisfaction with its current state, and emphasized the importance of further strengthening political, trade, economic, and investment ties. Based on the principles specified in the Joint Statement on Friendship and Comprehensive Partnership in the New Era between Japan and the Kyrgyz Republic, signed during the Official Visit of the President Sadyr Zhaparov in November 2023, both sides concurred on promoting concrete initiatives to strengthen the interconnection between Central Asia and the global community with the active involvement of Japan to co-create mutually beneficial cooperation.

Both sides appreciated that the Business Forum held by the Japan Business Association ROTOBO in Tokyo on December 20, 2025, contributed to promoting business relations between Japan and the Kyrgyz Republic, and welcomed the signing of documents in the business and academic fields, recognizing that these documents would serve as the basis for further strengthening Japan-Kyrgyz relations and contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of both countries.

Both sides concurred on the further development of their cooperation, including through the implementation of the bilateral cooperation and initiatives exemplified below, in line with the three priority areas of cooperation ("Green and Resilience," "Connectivity," and "Human Resource Development"), shown in the Tokyo Declaration of the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue adopted on December 20, 2025, in Tokyo, and also emphasized their willingness to broaden cooperation in additional mutually beneficial fields.

Both sides appreciated the development of the bilateral relations through continued political dialogue, including high-level mutual visits. Both sides exchanged views on current issues on the international agenda, including issues of regional security and sustainable development, and confirmed the importance of partnership within international organizations and forums for addressing global challenges.

Kyrgyz side welcomed Japan's development cooperation efforts which aim to maximize collective impact of development by using Official Development Assistance (ODA) more strategically as a catalyst to involve various public and private actors. In this regard, both sides concurred on promoting and expanding cooperation through this new approach, regarding "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route" to enhance connectivity within the region, and from Central Asia to the world. As part of the cooperation, both sides welcomed the implementation of training for customs officials of the Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the signing of the Exchange of Notes on Japan's support for "the Project for the Reconstruction of the Naryn River Bridge on the Bishkek-Osh Road for Enhanced Connectivity with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route".

Both sides also welcomed signing of the Exchanging of Notes on Japan's grant aid for "the Project for the Development of Training Facilities for Strengthening Capacity of Power System Operation and Maintenance", "the Project for the Improvement of Medical Equipment at Referral Hospitals in Southern Regions", and "Economic and Social Development Programme".

Both sides concurred on advancing the ongoing cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crimes, terrorism, and violent extremism to attain stronger law enforcement, intelligence and analytic capabilities, while welcoming the successful holding of the "Central Asian Counter-Terrorism Workshop" hosted by the Government of Japan on February 14 this year, with the participation of law enforcement authorities from five Central Asian countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic.

Both sides welcomed success of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan which helped create innovation through the promotion of exchanges and contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both sides welcomed the National Day of the Kyrgyz Republic successfully held on June 6, 2025. Also, Japan welcomed the Kyrgyz Republic's decision to participate in GREENxEXPO 2027, and both sides concurred on working together for the successful holding of the exhibition.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of Japanese cooperation for the Kyrgyz Republic's economic development, and welcomed its advances supported by Japanese technologies in the "International Roads Improvement Project" financed by JICA's ODA Loan, as well as the cooperation in the aviation sector. Japan has expressed its readiness to contribute to the Kyrgyz Republic through various means including the Asian Development Fund of the Asian Development Bank.

Recognizing the importance of simultaneously achieving economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization, both sides concurred on the achievement of the common goal of carbon neutrality/net-zero through various pathways and policy measures including the implementation of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) established in July 2023. In this regard, both sides welcomed the successful holding of the First Joint Committee for the implementation of the JCM in May 2025.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on the Realization of Energy Transitions in August 2024 as the progress of the outcomes of the Economic and Energy Dialogue of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue held in September 2023. Both sides welcomed the convening of the second Economic and Energy Dialogue in September 2025 and Energy Transitions Roadmap toward the net-zero goal presented in the dialogue. Also, both sides expressed their intention to work together to implement an energy efficiency and conservation human resource development project for energy efficiency and conservation policy makers in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Both sides welcomed the cooperation on climate change using the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) series for preparing more accurate and transparent report of greenhouse gas emission to be submitted within the framework of the Paris Agreement.

Both sides support the Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25" to be held in 2027 in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Both sides concurred on the need for further cooperation in the field of tourism through the exchange of information on tourism opportunities and participation in international tourism exhibitions, fairs, festivals, and other events held in both countries.

Both sides concurred on working together to develop and support governance and ecosystem for safe, secure, and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) aimed at harnessing its potential to achieve sustainable economic growth and to address social challenges, including through newly launched Japan-Central Asia Partnership for AI Cooperation. They also highlighted the importance of facilitating free, secure and trusted cross-border data flows as a critical driver of the digital economy.

Both sides welcomed the progress of academic exchanges between the universities. Also, both sides expressed hope for increased inter-regional and inter-parliamentary exchanges.

Both sides welcomed the cooperation in the area of culture to preserve and protect World Heritage sites in the Kyrgyz Republic such as extending capacity building and helping inscription through UNESCO projects funded by Japan and reaffirmed the importance of continuing to strengthen the cooperation. Also, both sides concurred on promoting cultural exchanges.

Both sides welcomed the active development of Japanese language teaching in educational institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic, including Japanese language courses jointly run by the Japan Foundation and Kyrgyz Republic-Japan Center for Human Development (KRJC).

Both sides concurred on the collaboration on the "One Village One Product (OVOP)" movement, which also contributes to women's empowerment and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Also, both sides concurred on promoting joint activities to expand the successful OVOP project in the Kyrgyz Republic to other regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus, while simultaneously confirming that the OVOP movement had spread to all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic and a competition for national brands was held.

Both sides concurred on further promoting human resources development through programs including the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA).

Both sides welcomed the signing of the Agreement between Japan and the Kyrgyz Republic for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance and concurred on further strengthening economic and investment ties, including by the conclusion of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) as early as possible.

Both sides confirmed their intention to continue cooperation with regard to the Specified Skilled Worker System of Japan.

Both sides concurred on establishing an Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economy, Culture and Human Exchange between the Government of Japan and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic with a view to enhancing intergovernmental coordination and promote materializing bilateral cooperation.

The meeting ended with a number of key documents confirming the intentions of both sides to continue and develop partnership in various areas.

Both sides expressed confidence that the consensus reached will serve as the basis for further strengthening Japan-Kyrgyz relations and contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of both sides.

The meeting was held in the spirit of mutual respect and desire to strengthen bilateral relations.

President Sadyr ZHAPAROV invited Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae to visit the Kyrgyz Republic at her convenience and emphasized the importance of further strengthening Japan-Kyrgyz relations.

Signed at Tokyo on 20 December 2025 in two copies in the English language.

Prime Minister of Japan
TAKAICHI Sanae

President of the Kyrgyz Republic
Sadyr ZHAPAROV