Tokyo, September 11, 2026 - Ambassador Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev held a meeting with Dr. Nobumasa Akiyama, Director of the Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology (CDAST).

Dr. Akiyama emphasized the importance of strengthening practical cooperation between the two countries with a view to contributing to the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons. In this regard, it was noted that the Center plays an active role in preparing the annual Hiroshima Report, which focuses on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues. Kazakhstan has traditionally ranked highly in the Japanese assessment across key aspects of nuclear security.

Ambassador Baudarbek-Kozhatayev highlighted the particular significance of the commemorative milestones being marked this year - the 35th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. The Japanese side was presented with the relevant statements by the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian countries, as well as by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

During the discussion of the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish an International Agency for Biological Safety (IABS), Dr. Akiyama underscored the importance of collective efforts to strengthen the international security architecture and enhance mechanisms for addressing biological threats, including emerging pandemics.

The sides also discussed promising areas of bilateral cooperation in the fields of disarmament, non-proliferation, international humanitarian law, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including within various international organizations.

Recognizing the importance of the existing ties between the cities of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Semey, the sides agreed on the importance of expanding exchanges between research institutions and civil society organizations in the two countries working on the effects of nuclear testing on people and the environment.

Background: The Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology (CDAST) was established in 1996. The Center conducts research in the fields of disarmament, non-proliferation and global security; promotes the development of mechanisms for implementing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT); provides professional training; and implements international exchange programs.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-tokyo/press/news/details/1290163?lang=ru