The two discussed prospects for advancing cooperation between research centers in Central Asia and Japan, as well as ways to deepen expert dialogue.

Javlon Vakhabov emphasized that the first Central Asia + Japan Summit, held in Tokyo in December 2025, took cooperation between the states of the region and Japan to a qualitatively new level — a development that calls for a more active engagement between analytical and research institutions.

For his part, Jin Sato noted the growing role of expert engagement, underscoring that joint research should be geared toward developing practical recommendations on pressing issues of the regional and international agenda.

Following the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in the further development of expert engagement, the implementation of joint research projects, and the strengthening of cooperation between the two institutions.

The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo, founded in 1941, is one of Japan's leading think tanks on Asia. The Institute's research covers a broad region — from North Africa to Japan, including Central Asia.