ASTANA — The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s partnerships with Azerbaijan and Belgium, proposed AI rules for newsrooms, and plans to expand Middle Corridor logistics infrastructure.
Almaty. Photo credit: Almaty’s city administration.
President Ilham Aliyev meets with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and officially inaugurates Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic Cable
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Oct. 15, reported Trend.
During the meeting, the sides hailed the successful development of the strategic partnership and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
They highlighted the successful organization of the 7th CICA Summit in Baku, adding that the event had provided a good opportunity to discuss cooperation among countries in the Asian region.
Subsequently, Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially inaugurated the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line in an online format.
Kazakhstan weighs AI rules for newsrooms amid growing digital risks
Kazakhstan is considering new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, including requirements to label AI-generated content. The proposal was discussed at the tenth Astana Media Week, which also focused on digital threats and children’s online safety, reported AnewZ on Oct. 15.
“Dmitriy Mun, CEO of Q.AI, predicted that AI could generate much of the content for some radio programmes and commentary within two to three years.
With automated content expected to become more common, Mun argued that the real challenge for journalists would be earning public trust rather than simply delivering information.
Fact-checking, accuracy and editorial independence could therefore become crucial in distinguishing professional journalism from machine-generated content,” reads the article.
Kazakhstan and Belgium to open new chapter in their partnership
EU Reporter published an article on Oct.12, written by Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Belgium Roman Vassilenko, exploring how the first Belgian state visit to Central Asia could strengthen Kazakhstan-Belgium ties through trade, investment, transport connectivity, and broader economic, academic and cultural cooperation.
“For Kazakhstan, relations with Belgium also have an important European dimension. Brussels combines bilateral diplomacy with dialogue with the European Union institutions. Transport connectivity, investment and resilient supply chains form a shared agenda in which Belgian expertise and Kazakhstan’s potential can, and do, complement each other,” reads the article.
Belgian royals in Kazakhstan: first state visit to Central Asia
Brussels-based VRT News released an article on Oct. 12 about the first-ever state visit to Central Asia by Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan in trade, critical minerals, technology, and science.
German logistics group Rhenus plans up to 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor
Global logistics company Rhenus Group plans to build a new multimodal hub in the Kazakh city of Aktau and develop up to 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor. This network will link Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and connect the route to the company’s infrastructure in Europe, reported Euronews on Oct. 9.
German logistics giant Rhenus Group is set to roll out a network of up to 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), with a new trimodal container terminal in Aktau.
Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan ties could reorient Central Asian integration
The five Central Asian presidents met with Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev in Avaza on Oct. 8 for the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, reported The Times of Central Asia on Oct. 12.
Azerbaijan’s participation brings a principal outlet for Central Asian trade into the six governments’ economic deliberations. Within their consultative format, the states can coordinate industrial projects with the transport services through which regional producers reach foreign markets. If Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan connect cross-Caspian transport more closely to industrial cooperation, the corridor could become an organizing axis for regional integration.
