Japan and the European Union recently hosted a conference that tackled ways to facilitate trade along the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The conference produced three recommendations, namely Japan and the EU should enhance coordination among donors in Central Asia, the two parties can function as vehicles to boost cross-border cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asia, and the parties should continue their political commitment to support social welfare, political reforms and economic development in Central Asia.
These recommendations will be presented to the Japan-EU high-level group. The two parties are planning to hold a similar conference in 2011.