“Our relationship has a great future”: Tokayev meets with Japanese lawmakers

Ulpan Sabi

Tengrinews.kz — The President of Kazakhstan met with members of the Japan Parliamentary League of Friendship with Kazakhstan, led by Toshiaki Endo, citing the Akorda press service.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highly praised the league’s work, noting that he views it as an important mechanism for strengthening bilateral cooperation. The President emphasized that Kazakhstan pays special attention to further expanding comprehensive engagement with Tokyo.

“Interparliamentary dialogue is developing actively, and contacts at various levels are regular. Trade, economic, and investment ties are growing dynamically. Japan is among Kazakhstan’s largest investors. Last year, trade turnover between our countries reached 2 billion dollars, which accounts for more than 70 percent of Japan’s total trade with the states of Central Asia. Joint projects are being implemented in transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, and other areas. Today, during my meeting with Emperor Naruhito, we discussed opportunities to develop cooperation in the medical sphere and on water-related issues. I am confident our relationship has a great future. Our cultural and humanitarian ties have deep roots. We work closely in education, science, culture, the arts, sports, and tourism. This year, within the framework of the World Expo in Osaka, we marked the 180th anniversary of the birth of the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbayuly,” the President of Kazakhstan said.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored that Kazakhstan and Japan share aligned positions on key global issues.

He noted that both countries consistently support each other on matters of peace and nuclear disarmament, both within the United Nations and in other international organizations.

“Kazakhstan attaches special importance to the ‘Central Asia–Japan’ summit, which is an important mechanism for interregional cooperation. At the forthcoming meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, it is planned to discuss a number of issues. These talks are intended to deepen political dialogue and intensify economic and humanitarian contacts. I am convinced that our peoples will continue to achieve new successes, and our mutually beneficial relations will only grow stronger,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Photo by the press service of Akorda

It is noted that Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan began with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The President stressed that, for many years, the Land of the Rising Sun has inspired the people of Kazakhstan with its discipline and resilience.

Emperor Naruhito expressed confidence that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit would become a significant milestone in the history of relations between Japan and Kazakhstan and would elevate them to a qualitatively new level.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser and Press Secretary Ruslan Zheldibay reported that, during Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Japan, it is planned to sign commercial agreements totaling more than 3.7 billion dollars.