Tokayev: Japan Inspires Kazakhstan with Discipline, Resilience

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has begun his first official visit to Japan with high-level talks in Tokyo, meeting Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace.

Thanking the Emperor for the warm welcome, Tokayev said Japan has long inspired the people of Kazakhstan with its discipline, resilience, and commitment to progress, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

He noted that Astana and Tokyo share a history of friendly relations built on mutual respect and practical cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

Emperor Naruhito, in turn, expressed confidence that the Kazakh President’s visit would mark an important milestone in bilateral ties and help elevate relations between the two countries to a new level. The talks also covered key issues of international and regional cooperation.

During the visit, President Tokayev is expected to hold meetings with representatives of major Japanese companies. Kazakhstan and Japan plan to sign more than 40 agreements spanning strategic areas such as energy, renewable power, digitalization, mining, and transport.

In an exclusive interview, Japan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Yasumasa Iijima, discusses prospects for bilateral cooperation, the development of the Middle Corridor, business initiatives, environmental challenges in the Caspian region, and joint efforts on nuclear disarmament.