DUSHANBE, February 22, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Friday February 21, Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister received Mr. Jun Nanazawa, Director of the Central Asia and Caucasus Division, European Affairs at Japan MFA.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan as well as cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Central Asia plus Japan dialogue.

The Central Asia plus Japan dialogue is a political initiative between Japan and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with the goal to create a new framework for cooperation, thereby elevating relations between Japan and Central Asia to a new level.

Zohidov and Nanazawa reportedly also discussed cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan within the framework of international organizations, including the United Nations.

The two also exchanged views on problems of regional security against the background of the withdrawal of international coalition forces from Afghanistan in 2014.