The Japan News: “How Tashkent is Shaping a New Era in Central Asia”
2025-12-18 17:20:00 / News
The article highlights that in recent years, Uzbekistan has become the primary initiator and coordinating hub of integration processes in Central Asia. It notes that the regional dialogue and consultation mechanisms launched by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have fostered an atmosphere of mutual trust and regular cooperation that had been absent for decades.
Key Highlights of the Article:
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Institutionalized Dialogue: Constant meetings between regional leaders have elevated political discourse, enabling coordinated decisions on security, economics, and ecology. The adoption of the "Central Asia – 2040" strategy is seen as a pivotal step toward a long-term developmental vision.
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Economic Integration: The multifold increase in intra-regional trade and investment flows demonstrates that integration is a tangible economic reality rather than just a political slogan. Joint ventures and border industrial zones are intertwining the region’s economies.
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Infrastructure Connectivity: Transport corridors and logistics hubs are transforming Central Asia into a strategic transit bridge between Europe and Asia.
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Global Subjectivity: The international community increasingly views Central Asia as a unified and future-oriented regional entity rather than a fragmented post-Soviet space.
Significant Diplomatic Milestones of 2025:
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March 2025: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan signed a historic border agreement at the Khujand Summit, turning long-standing disputes into zones of stability.
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April 2025: The first EU-Central Asia Summit held in Samarkand, where the EU announced a €12 billion "Gateway" investment package.
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November 2025: The C5+1 Summit in Washington D.C., marking the first time all Central Asian leaders met together in the U.S. capital.
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November 2025: The initiative to formalize regional unity by establishing the Central Asian Community was proposed in Tashkent.
The article concludes that for external partners like Japan, these processes open new strategic doors, making an integrated Central Asia an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investment, technology exchange, and infrastructural partnership.