President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike to discuss cooperation in digitalisation, Smart City technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable urban development, and the introduction of innovative solutions into municipal governance. The sides also reviewed efforts aimed at building more comfortable, environmentally friendly, safe, and inclusive urban environments.
In the presence of the President, Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the capitals of Kazakhstan and Japan.
President Tokayev stressed that he sees significant potential for cooperation between the two capitals in integrating artificial intelligence into city management.
During the meeting, the President was presented with Tokyo’s Smart City concept, which incorporates advanced technologies to enhance the quality of life, administrative efficiency, and sustainable development.
Tokayev also toured Tokyo’s Emergency Management Center — the key hub for the city’s civil protection and crisis response system. The center ensures continuous monitoring, coordination of government agencies during emergencies, and analysis of data on potential or ongoing disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, major industrial accidents, and terrorist threats. A special unit of the center is tasked with combating the spread of misinformation in the media and on social networks through 24/7 monitoring. In non-emergency periods, the center focuses on crisis management planning, improvement of civil protection systems, development of regional emergency strategies, training exercises, and providing public information on disaster preparedness and response.
