Kyrgyzstan, Japan discuss sustainable mountain development
Bishkek, Oct. 7, 2025. /Kabar/. Kyrgyz Republic held thematic event on sustainable mountain development on the sidelines of EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The event, organized with the support of representatives of the National Investment Agency, JICA, UCA, and FAO, was attended by over 90 people, including online.
In her welcoming remarks, Special Representative of Kyrgyz President Dinara Kemelova presented Kyrgyzstan's initiatives and activities within the framework of the Five Years of Action for Mountain Regions (2023–2027), noting that mountains influence the environmental and socio-economic well-being of many regions and unite countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Japan. Kyrgyzstan also presented a report on sustainable mountain development and enhancing the capacity of mountain regions to address the effects of climate change. The event featured speakers including Yutaka Matsuzawa, Senior Advisor to the Minister of the Environment of Japan; Professor Kenji Tanaka (Kyoto University Institute for Disaster Prevention Research); Kana Furusawa (Japan Geoparks Network); Deo Raj Gurung (University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan); and Takafumi Ueda, JICA representative.
During the side event, discussions focused on supporting mountain communities through the development of sustainable ecotourism, geoparks, branding of mountain products, rational use of natural resources, the problems of glacier melting and natural disasters in the mountains, and the role of science in improving climate resilience in mountain regions.
In addition, Kyrgyz exhibition of mountain products offered to the visitors products made from Kyrgyz merino wool, "KYRINO," various varieties of beans, and apricot and nut oils. Guests tasted white mountain honey, dried fruits, nuts, and herbal tea, and highly praised the taste of natural products produced in the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan.
During her visit to Japan, Dinara Kemelova also held bilateral meetings with representatives of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, JICA, and the United Nations University in Tokyo. They discussed plans for cooperation on the mountain agenda through 2027, including issues of branding mountain products, exchanging experiences in ecotourism, and managing protected areas. Japanese representatives discussed the Japanese "Satoyama" initiative, which aims to develop communities in harmony with forests and mountains. Residents of these areas have found a balance in mountain ecosystems, maintaining their health and respecting nature, while simultaneously benefiting from its gifts, such as water and food.
