en.Wedoany.com Reported - In an exclusive interview with Kazinform, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stated that Astana is rapidly developing into a modern metropolis with a unique style, having become an important business and tourism hub in the Eurasian region. She noted that Tokyo and Astana, as the capitals of their respective countries, should further deepen cooperation and jointly explore effective pathways for sustainable urban development.
In May this year, Koike paid an official visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Kazakh government, meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek. President Tokayev awarded her the Order of Friendship, First Class, in recognition of her contributions to deepening Kazakhstan-Japan friendly relations. Last December, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Astana City Administration signed a memorandum of understanding, focusing on cooperation in areas such as green transformation, artificial intelligence, natural disaster prevention, education, and sturgeon farming. She indicated that this visit helps to strengthen collaboration on shared issues and enhance international competitiveness.
Sharing urban governance experience, Koike introduced Tokyo's practices in disaster prevention, including the construction of underground water storage reservoirs, using AI systems to predict water level changes, rapidly assessing disaster damage via drones, and strengthening building seismic resistance. She pointed out that Kazakhstan also faces risks of floods and earthquakes, making Tokyo's accumulated experience and technology highly valuable for reference. At the same time, Kazakhstan's achievements in digital projects such as AI and "smart cities" offer inspiration for Tokyo's "Smart Tokyo" concept.
Educational cooperation is seen as a key future direction. Koike stated that during her visit to the Nazarbayev Intellectual School, she was impressed by its curriculum based on International Baccalaureate standards, as well as its mathematics and natural science teaching. She noted that Tokyo emphasizes digital education and supports youth studying abroad, and the international education strategy of the Nazarbayev Intellectual School provides valuable experience for deepening educational cooperation between the two sides.
Discussing digital cooperation, Koike emphasized that she visited the Alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence in Astana, learning about its work in using AI and digital technologies to address urban governance issues and talent development. Under the framework of the signed memorandum, both sides will continue to maintain close cooperation, jointly tackle challenges, and promote Kazakhstan-Japan interaction in the digital field.
Reflecting on a decade of governing one of the world's largest metropolises, Koike pointed out that people remain at the core of urban development. She noted that last year, the number of newborns in Tokyo increased by 1% year-on-year, the first growth in 10 years, reflecting public support for policy measures. She reiterated that the needs of residents will continue to be placed at the heart of urban development. This visit comes on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of an expanded strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Japan. Earlier, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike at the Akorda Presidential Palace.
