Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), met with Arfiya Eri, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on 10 August 2026 at the OTS Secretariat in Istanbul.
During the meeting, Secretary General Omuraliev shared information on the activities and priorities of the OTS, highlighting the Organization’s growing role as a platform for regional cooperation, connectivity and dialogue across the Turkic World and the wider Eurasian region.
Secretary General Omuraliev underlined the increasing economic and strategic importance of the OTS region, situated at the crossroads of major transport, trade and energy routes connecting Asia and Europe. In this context, he emphasized the opportunities offered by the Trans-Caspian International East-West Middle Corridor and the potential for closer cooperation with Japan in connectivity, infrastructure, technology and sustainable development.
Vice-Minister Eri highlighted the longstanding relations between Japan and the OTS countries and reaffirmed Japan’s interest in further strengthening its engagement with the Turkic World. She emphasized Japan’s values-based approach to international cooperation, underlining the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, the rule of law and a free and open international order. She also expressed Japan’s interest in advancing mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the region, particularly in the areas of economic development, connectivity, innovation, digital transformation and green transition.
The sides exchanged views on regional developments and discussed prospects for further strengthening cooperation between the OTS and Japan, including within the OTS+ format. In this context, they explored opportunities for enhanced interaction in such areas as trade and investment, energy, transport and connectivity, digitalization and innovation, green transformation, education, and people-to-people contacts.
The meeting concluded with the sides expressing their readiness to maintain contacts and continue exploring concrete opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between the Organization of Turkic States and Japan.
