President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Saturday in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with the sides agreeing to step up efforts to launch direct air service between the two countries, according to a press release from Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

The opening of direct flights is expected to boost cross-border mobility and create additional opportunities for the development of bilateral economic ties.

The sides also confirmed readiness to promote and expand cooperation on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route to strengthen regional connectivity and improve access of Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, to global markets.

Earlier, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan reached an agreement to restore direct air service.