In his remarks, J. Vakhabov introduced the main areas of IICA’s work and briefed the participants on recent developments in the region. Particular attention was given to regional consolidation in Central Asia and the development of С5+ formats.

During the meeting, students had the opportunity to ask questions on current foreign policy processes in Central Asia, the region’s relations with Japan, engagement with Afghanistan, and the role of think tanks in shaping foreign policy decisions.

In conclusion, the IICA Director noted the strong academic background and motivation of the students, emphasizing the importance of international academic experience in preparing a new generation of specialists. He also expressed IICA’s readiness to support their participation in joint research and expert projects on Central Asia.

The University of Tsukuba is one of Japan’s leading research universities. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it is ranked 350th globally.

Since 2006, the university has offered the Special Program for Central Asian Countries (SPJES), an educational program aimed at training specialists on Central Asia. The program provides education for students from the region with the support of Japanese public and private scholarship programs, including grants from The Nippon Foundation and MEXT.