The Japanese government is preparing to host the inaugural C5+1 summit with the heads of five Central Asian countries in Tokyo on December 19-20, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the summit, the leaders are expected to exchange views on fostering sustainable development in the region and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation. A business forum will also be held as part of the summit’s activities.

Leaders from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are expected to participate.

The press service of Kazakhstan’s president confirmed that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev would attend, but the administrations of the other Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, have yet to confirm their leaders' participation.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Japan’s Prime Minister, Ms. Sanae Takaichi, will chair the summit. It is expected that the summit will provide an opportunity for Japan and the Central Asian countries to reaffirm their longstanding cooperative relations and further strengthen mutually beneficial ties.

Prime Minister Takaichi will also hold bilateral meetings with the presidents of the Central Asian countries to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and international affairs, among other matters.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the "Central Asia + Japan" Business Forum will be hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Japan and the Central Asian countries have been engaging in dialogue at the ministerial level through the "Central Asia - Japan" format for over two decades. This summit will mark the first-ever meeting of the heads of state of these countries.

Media reports suggest that Prime Minister Takaichi views the summit as an opportunity to expand cooperation and enhance economic security.

The "Central Asia - Japan" summit was originally scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan in August 2024. However, due to the threat of a powerful earthquake in Japan just before the event, the Japanese delegation canceled its visit.

The C5+1 format refers to dialogue between the five Central Asian countries (C5) and one external partner — in this case, Japan. This format is used to discuss a wide range of cooperation issues, from economy and trade to security and regional development.