BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 31. Turkmenistan and
Japan signed a cooperation program between their foreign ministries
for 2027-2029 following inter-ministerial talks in Ashgabat.
This was reflected in a press release issued by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The program was signed by Turkmen
Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Japanese Foreign Minister
Toshimitsu Motegi at a ceremony held after negotiations between
delegations led by them.
According to the ministry, the document establishes a framework
for cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two
countries.
Meanwhile, Japan and Turkmenistan have also been expanding
cooperation beyond traditional energy and industrial projects. In
December 2025, the two countries joined other Central Asian states
and Japan in the first Central Asia-Japan Summit in Tokyo, where
the sides adopted the Tokyo Declaration and an action plan covering
economic development, connectivity, climate change and human
resource development. The framework has provided an additional
platform for advancing Japanese business engagement in Turkmenistan
and identifying new areas for cooperation.
Japan has also been supporting Turkmenistan through technical
cooperation and capacity building. In 2026, discussions between
Turkmen officials and the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) covered areas including hydrogen energy, digitalization,
healthcare, artificial intelligence, water management and
sustainable development, indicating a gradual broadening of
bilateral economic cooperation beyond large-scale industrial
projects.
Earlier on January 21, Turkmen Ambassador to Japan Atadurdy
Bayramov and Chairman of the Japan-Turkmen Committee for Economic
Cooperation Hiroyuki Tsubai discussed plans for economic
cooperation in 2026, as well as the implementation of joint
projects to further strengthen the bilateral partnership. The
projects include initiatives outlined by the Turkmen president
during the first Central Asia + Japan Dialogue Summit, held in
Tokyo on December 20.
