Osaka: Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Tuesday expressed Tokyo's interest in pursuing energy projects with Turkmenistan, describing the Central Asian nation as being 'rich in natural resources,' during a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Osaka. Berdimuhamedov is in Japan for the opening of the 2025 World Expo being held in Osaka.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Japanese Foreign Ministry released a statement indicating that Japan aims to strengthen economic relations by leveraging its technology to facilitate Turkmenistan's energy transition. This includes promoting projects such as the second Gas to Gasoline (GTG) plant and an ammonia and urea plant in Kiyanly.

During the meeting, a total of 15 documents were signed between Tokyo and Ashgabat, highlighting the commitment to collaborative projects. Ishiba and Berdimuhamedov discussed bilateral cooperation across several areas, with both nations welcoming the revision of a Memorandum of Cooperation on Energy Transitions between their foreign ministries.

The discussions also touched on future collaborations, particularly in the upcoming Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue Summit. Both leaders emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, agreeing to work closely on global diplomatic initiatives.

The statement also noted that the leaders covered various international developments, including the situations in Ukraine, Central Asia, and East Asia. Japan and Turkmenistan have maintained diplomatic ties since 1992, as reported by the Japanese government.