President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved proposals on strengthening cooperation between our country and Japan, which were voiced at a recent joint meeting of the Turkmen-Japanese and Japanese-Turkmen Committees on Economic Cooperation.

Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov reported on the results of the fifteenth joint meeting of these committees during a government meeting held digitally on December 21.

In this regard, it was reported that a delegation headed by Hiroyuki Tsubai, member of the Board of Directors of Itochu Corporation, Executive Vice President, President of Machinery and Equipment, Chairman of the Japanese-Turkmen Committee on Economic Cooperation, took part in the regular meeting of the Committees held in Ashgabat on December 16-17.

The Japanese delegation included the heads and representatives of Itochu Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Sumitomo Corporation and others, as well as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Japan External Trade Promotion Organization JETRO.

During the joint meeting of the Committees, issues related to partnership in the trade and economic sphere, in the oil and gas and chemical industries, as well as in the field of «green» energy were discussed. In these areas, the Turkmen side put forward a number of proposals.

In particular, it is proposed to establish consultations on the use of joint lending mechanisms for the implementation of medium-scale projects in the field of decarbonization. It is also proposed to create a mechanism for attracting the Japanese side to the export of goods produced at enterprises built by Japanese companies in Turkmenistan.

Having considered the possibilities of using renewable methane as a raw material, it is proposed to jointly develop measures to reduce methane emissions. Having studied the Japanese experience in the field of «green» and hydrogen energy, to establish high-tech production. To conduct consultations on the development of a new version of Turkmenistan's contribution to the obligations of the Paris Agreement within the framework of the implementation of the tasks of the Roadmap for the GTG-2 project.

The Turkmen side also put forward proposals for interaction with Japanese companies in the transport and communications sector, construction, industry and the electric power industry. Thus, it is proposed to form a working group to develop a project to transfer the gas turbine power plant in the Lebap velayat to a combined format.

In order to implement comprehensive cooperation with Japanese companies producing advanced equipment and technologies in the field of water management, to hold a presentation of them in the near future, as well as to organize a round table meeting on the possibilities of partnership in the field of providing automotive equipment.

As the Vice-Chairman, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan noted, the Japanese side supported the proposals put forward by Ashgabat and confirmed its readiness to carry out joint work for their implementation. The Turkmen side reported on the development of a draft Action Plan for 2025-2027 for the practical implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting of the Turkmen-Japanese Committee.

After hearing the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved the proposals voiced, noting that Turkmenistan attaches particular importance to the development of partnership with Japan.

- Mutually beneficial relations between the two countries are increasingly strengthening and reaching a qualitatively new level, - said Serdar Berdimuhamedov, instructing the Vice-Chairman, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue work to deepen trade, economic and investment cooperation with Japan.