ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 25. Japan will support the digitization of customs services at the port of Aktau on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle Corridor), said Kazakhstani Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu following talks with his Japanese counterpart Takashi Iwai in Astana, Trend reports.
During the negotiations with the Japanese side, special attention was given to the transport and logistics sector, the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, as well as cooperation in addressing the consequences of the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site on the health of Kazakh citizens.
"The Government of Japan expressed support for the digitization of customs services at the port of Aktau along the TITR. Additionally, there are great prospects for cooperation in the fields of atomic energy, production and export of nuclear fuel, as well as nuclear medicine," said Nurtleu.
Deputy Prime Minister reminded that Kazakhstan has rich reserves of rare and important elements necessary for the green transformation and high technologies.
"Out of 32 types of raw materials required for the production of 'green' technologies in Japan, 22 are produced in Kazakhstan. In this regard, my colleague and I expressed the intention to implement specific investment projects between 'Tau-Ken Samruk' and the Japanese corporation for oil, gas, and metals 'JOGMEC'," added the Kazakh minister.
He also noted that Japan is a traditional market for metallurgical and petrochemical products.
"The prospects for concluding long-term agreements on the export of certain non-ferrous metals, such as gallium and manganese sulfate, were discussed at the meeting," emphasized Nurtleu.
The official once again reminded that Kazakhstan and Japan call on the world to renounce nuclear weapons.
"In this context, it is especially significant that the visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister coincides with the day of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki disasters, and next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site," said Murat Nurtleu.
Following the negotiations, the ministers signed an intergovernmental document allocating a non-repayable grant to Kazakhstan to assist those affected by nuclear tests (medical equipment worth $7.4 million).
Nurtleu also confirmed the mutual intention to continue developing the "Central Asia and Japan" dialogue. Regarding the date and location of the "Central Asia + Japan" summit, consultations are ongoing.
"As part of expanding air connectivity with Kazakhstan, a direct Almaty-Tokyo flight will be launched next year," added Nurtleu.
By the end of 2024, the mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Japan amounted to $2 billion.
