The First Central Asia + Japan Leaders’ Summit is starting in Tokyo, marking a new era in relations between the Central Asian countries and Japan.

The summit, which will bring together, for the first time, the presidents of the Central Asian countries and the Prime Minister of Japan, is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration and the adoption of decisions that will deepen strategic cooperation between the parties.

By applying a comprehensive approach to the region with the aim of developing relations with newly independent countries, Japan became the first country to initiate meetings in the C5+1 format in 2004.