Tokyo: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday met with Japan's Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo during his first official visit to the country, according to Kazakhstan's presidential press service Akorda. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and international affairs.

According to Anadolu Agency, Tokayev expressed that Japan's discipline and resilience have inspired the Kazakh people for many years. He noted that Japan and Kazakhstan enjoy long-standing friendly relations founded on mutual respect and cooperation across various fields.

Emperor Naruhito remarked that Tokayev's visit would be a significant event in history, potentially elevating relations between the two nations to a qualitatively new level, as reported by Akorda.

During Tokayev's meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and business leaders, agreements in energy, renewable energy, digitalization, mining, and transportation worth over $3.7 billion are expected to be signed, according to Ruslan Zheldibay, the Kazakh president's press secretary.

Tokayev is in Tokyo to attend the first summit between Japan and the leaders of five Central Asian nations. Takaichi is set to host the two-day summit starting Friday, focusing on international affairs and strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation. She will also hold separate bilateral meetings with the participating Central Asian leaders.

Kazakhstan and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1992, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $1.8 billion last year.