Overview

In July 1997, Japan's Prime Minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto, introduced the concept of Eurasian Diplomacy which would encompass Russia, China, as well as the Newly Independent States in the Central Asia-Caucasus ("Silk Road") region. The idea is that Japan should further improve relations with these countries and help them foster greater political and economic stability.

2007 marks the ten year anniversary of Japan's Eurasian diplomacy. While Japan's relationship with its two neighbors, Russia and China have been well documented. Japan's engagement with the Central Asia-Caucasus region is significantly less known, and poorly understood.

Since 1997, great change has occurred within the Silk Road region and its surrounding areas. To name a few: (1) the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was created in 2001 and there are on-going questions concerning its future orientation and what it means for the security of Eurasia; (2) Afghanistan is the process of post-Taliban reconstruction; (3) Russia is attempting to re-assert itself in this post-Soviet space; (4) China is making a strong effort to establish energy, trade and security links with the Central Asia region; and finally (5) Tokyo launched the Central Asia Plus Japan Initiative in August 2004 to promote multilateral cooperation in Central Asia.

Aim

A one-day workshop is organized with the following aims in mind:

•  To discuss and analyse Japan's role and impact in Central Asia thus far;

•  To examine how Japan should proceed with its future engagement in the region.

•  To enable Japan and its partners to better coordinate their security and development strategies in order to promote stability in this emerging region.

All queries should be directed to Christopher Len.