Uzbekistan’s relations with Japan have deep historical roots. For centuries, Samarkand served as one of the key centers of the Great Silk Road, while Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, was its eastern gateway. Trade and the exchange of knowledge along the Great Silk Road, including between Uzbekistan and Japan, played a significant role in the development of international commerce and cultural interaction, forming lasting cultural bridges between civilizations. Today, Samarkand and Nara are twin cities.

The sides had a comprehensive review of the key achievements of Uzbek–Tajik ties of strategic partnership and alliance in 2025, noting the positive dynamics in all areas.

The sides discussed strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and promoting cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries.

At the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of state of Central Asia, held on November 16 in Tashkent, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cooperation. Particular attention was drawn to the proposal to establish a Council of Elders of Central Asia. For some, this initiative appears to be a return to traditional practices; for others, it represents a new format of regional diplomacy. What is the real substance of this proposal, and what practical role could it play in shaping the future of Central Asia? This question was addressed by Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, to the correspondent of Dunyo IA:

On December 19-20, 2025, a landmark event in the history of relations between Central Asia and Japan will take place in Tokyo – the first summit of heads of state in the "Central Asia + Japan" format. This meeting will constitute a significant milestone that will open a new chapter in the strategic partnership and provide a powerful impetus to multifaceted cooperation between the region and one of the world's leading economies. It should be noted that the upcoming summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue, established in 2004.

Ambassador A. Khatamov opened the meeting by stating that the visit of His Excellency Qays Saad Al-Amri was a great honor for the Uzbek side. During the sincere and friendly meeting, the parties discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.

As part of the events of the working visit to the Russian Federation, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon were awarded with the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize at a ceremony held at the Saint Petersburg State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.

On December 21, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated as the head of observer state in a regular meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Saint Petersburg.