Turkmenistan and Japan Launch Expo Summit Diplomacy

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday kicked off a series of anticipated summit-level meetings with foreign dignitaries attending the World Exposition in Osaka, which runs through October 13.

Ishiba agreed during talks at his office in Tokyo with Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to expand bilateral ties as partners that uphold a free and open, rules-based global order, with Central Asia taking on greater geopolitical importance, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

More than 160 countries, regions and international organizations are taking part in the expo, which kicked off on Sunday.

Ishiba said he is willing to deepen "mutually beneficial" bilateral relations based on friendship and trust, while Berdimuhamedov also expressed hope to strengthen ties, according to the Japanese government.

The two leaders confirmed that they will work toward holding a summit involving Japan and five Central Asian nations -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, in addition to Turkmenistan.

Resource-poor Japan has been aiming to build amicable relations over the years with Turkmenistan, which is rich in energy resources, especially natural gas.

The Central Asian region is viewed as geopolitically significant, given its geographical proximity to countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan.

Berdimuhamedov visited the expo on Monday, which was designated by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition as a "national day" for Turkmenistan. He also met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Tuesday in Tokyo.

Participating nations, regions, and organizations are each given a designated day for promotional events. Japan's national day will fall on July 3, the expo organizers said.