The Forum is organized by the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo, and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED).
The Forum will bring together representatives of leading think tanks and research institutions, diplomatic missions, relevant ministries and government agencies, as well as academic and business communities from Japan, the Central Asian countries, and Azerbaijan.
The Forum will feature four thematic sessions focusing on key areas of regional cooperation. These will include political dialogue in the “Central Asia plus Japan” format, sustainable development and the green transition, energy security and critical minerals, transport and digital connectivity, as well as humanitarian cooperation, education, and the development of expert dialogue.
The first day of the Forum will be held at the IICA premises, while the second day will take place at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
The Forum represents a practical implementation of the initiative put forward by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the first “Central Asia plus Japan” Summit, held in Tokyo in December 2025.
The establishment of this new expert platform is intended to complement intergovernmental dialogue and contribute to the development of concrete proposals for implementing the provisions of the Tokyo Declaration. The Forum will also provide a platform for establishing sustainable professional ties among think tanks and research institutions of Central Asian countries, Japan, and Azerbaijan, as well as for exchanging expert assessments on current issues of regional and international development.