Present-Day Japan’s Economic Diplomacy Toward Uzbekistan and Its Development

Abstract

Located in Central Asia connecting Eurasia, Uzbekistan not only occupies an important geographical position, but also has abundant energy resources, which makes it Japan’s important economic and diplomatic target country in Central Asia. Since the unfolding of the new century, Japan’s economic diplomacy with Uzbekistan has gone through several stages of development, from initial contact to gradual maturity, and has been undergoing twists and turns. Since Shinzo Abe came to power for the second time in 2012, Japan’s economic diplomacy with Uzbekistan has deepened significantly, showing more distinct characteristics of changes, including the substantial increase of the amount of aid to the Uzbek government, attaching importance to bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and flexibly utilising the ‘Central Asia + Japan’ regional cooperation mechanism. The strategic considerations behind these changes and adjustments are to deeply participate in the regional cooperation in Central Asia by building a bilateral economic and trade relationship network, ensure the security of energy and resource supply in the post-pandemic era, realise the strategy of becoming a great power, and balance the forces of foreign powers.