Upcoming C5+1 Meeting in New York is Long Overdue, Says American Expert 

ASTANA – The leaders of five Central Asian states, including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are slated to meet with United States President Joe Biden on Sept. 19 in the...


Kazakhstan Participates in China-Europe Railway Express Cooperation Forum

ASTANA – Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar took part in the opening ceremony of the China-Europe Railway Express Cooperation Forum on Sept. 15 during his working visit...


Publishing House Makes World Bestsellers Accessible in Kazakh Language

ASTANA – Steppe & World Publishing, a house known for its adaptive translation of the Harry Potter saga into the Kazakh language, presented their works at Comic Con Astana,...


Kazakh PM Calls for Urgent Actions to Attract Investment

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov emphasized the urgent need to attract at least 18.5 trillion tenge ($39.5 billion) of investment in fixed assets this year during a...


Kazakhstan Inks Int’l Agreements to Boost Railway Industry

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation on Sept. 17 during President Kassym-Jomart...


President Tokayev to Participate in C5+1 Summit This Week

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the C5+1 Summit of five Central Asian presidents and US President Joe Biden during his working visit to New York...


Air Astana to Launch Daily Flights to Thailand

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national carrier Air Astana will launch daily flights to Bangkok and Phuket from the end of October, the airline’s press service reported on Sept. 16. The...


Bridging Gaps, Fostering Progress: Navigating Kazakhstan’s SDG Journey

As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit convenes in New York, the air is filled with anticipation. For this Summit marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey towards...


President Tokayev: Religious Leaders Can Help Bring About World Peace

ASTANA — The Jerusalem Post published an opinion piece by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 14, where he reiterated the indispensable role of religious leaders and the need for...


Expert Discusses Kazakhstan’s Priorities as SCO Chair

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is interested in developing multifaceted cooperation as part of its chairmanship in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Aidar Kurmashev, head of the Asian Studies Department at...


Atyrau Archaeologists Discover 13th-14th Century Caravanserai Taskeshu

ASTANA — A team of archaeologists from Atyrau has embarked on an intriguing excavation project, unearthing the historical relics of a 13th-14th century caravanserai named Taskeshu, situated along the...


Travel Guide to Kyrgyz Republic’s Marvelous Lake Kel-Suu

NARYN, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC – Traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic offers the ultimate freedom of the great outdoors, and Lake Kel-Suu in the country’s south is among the most serene...


Kazakhstan Has Untapped Travel Potential, Experts Say

AKTAU – With its diverse nature and untouched landscapes, Kazakhstan is home to some of the world’s best travel treasures that still largely remain unseen by tourists, say participants...


Industrial Cooperation Emerges as New Trend in Central Asian Collaboration

ASTANA – Industrial cooperation is becoming a new trend in regional collaboration in Central Asia, Kairat Nurtazin, a senior expert of the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies, told The...


Kazakh Tourism Development Forum Concludes with Multiple Proposals

AKTAU – The Kazakhstan Tourism Development Forum concluded with several key proposals aimed at boosting the country’s tourism sector. The event provided a platform for collaboration between government agencies...


Kazakh President Visits Expo Central Asia Exhibition in Dushanbe

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited an exhibition featuring Central Asian product manufacturers during his official visit to Dushanbe, which coincided with the fifth Consultative Meeting of Central...


Turkistan Region Takes Steps to Secure UNESCO Status for Arpaozen Petroglyphs

ASTANA — Significant progress has been made in Turkistan Region toward attaining United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognition for the Arpaozen petroglyphs. This ancient cultural heritage...


Kazakh President Outlines Priorities for Resolving Water Issues, Aral Sea Crisis

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed the country’s readiness to make every effort to strengthen the work of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) during...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Kazakh-Chinese Ties and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has compiled a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest includes coverage of the Trans-Caspian International Transport...


Officials Unveil Visa-Free Plan to Include 100 Countries at Tourism Development Forum in Aktau

AKTAU – Kazakh officials announced plans to expand the visa-free regime for nationals from 80 to 100 countries at the Kazakhstan Tourism Development Forum on Sept. 15 in Aktau....


Tackling East Asia’s Demographic Implosion

Over the past several decades, much of Asia, from Singapore to Seoul, has been experiencing a demographic implosion of unsettling proportions – just look at Japan, South Korea and...


Astana Hub Battle Prize Fund Increased Fourfold to $ 75,000

ASTANA – The prize fund for the Astana Hub Battle, the largest IT startup competition in Kazakhstan, has been quadrupled to $ 75,000, reported the Astana Hub press service...


Riders Conquer 850-Kilometer Challenge in Great Steppe Race

ASTANA – The ninth leg of the Great Steppe Race marathon, featuring 12 teams covering a total distance of 850 kilometers, commenced on Sept. 14, reported the Turkistan Region’s...


Astana to Host Industrial Exhibition This Month

ASTANA – Innoprom Kazakhstan 2023, an industrial exhibition, is set to take place at the EXPO International Exhibition Center in Astana on Sept.25-27, spokesperson of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry...


Eurasian Film Market Highlights Rise of Kazakh Cinema

ASTANA – The Kazakh film industry is on the rise, according to production companies who presented their films at the first international Eurasian Film Market that took place in...


Kazakhstan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Multifaceted Cooperation With Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakhstan remains steadfast in its commitment to strategic, multifaceted cooperation with all Central Asian countries, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads...


Thailand Eases Entry Requirements for Kazakh Citizens

ASTANA – Thailand is set to introduce temporary visa-free travel for Kazakh citizens from Sept. 25 to Feb. 29 next year, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kazakh...


Astana Hosts 14th National Delphic Games This Week

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosts the 14th National Delphic Games titled Silk Way Creative Games from Sept. 13 to 17, the National Delphic Committee announced on its Instagram...


SCO Secretariat Hosts Kazakhstan’s Culture Day

ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat hosted Kazakhstan’s Culture Day on Sept. 13 as part of the country’s chairmanship of the SCO for 2023-2024 in Beijing, reported...


Kazakhstan Showcases Its Trade Opportunities at Hong Kong’s Belt and Road Summit

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, presented Kazakhstan’s trade opportunities at the eighth Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on Sept. 13, reported the...


Kazakhstan is Active International Player and Regional Leader, Says Top MEP

ASTANA – A delegation of the members of the European Parliament led by David McAllister, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), visited Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic...


Central Asian Foreign Ministers Meet Ahead of Fifth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State

ASTANA – Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states gathered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Sept. 13 to review the draft agenda of the fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of...


Crime Rate in Kazakhstan Declines by 15.2%

ASTANA – The crime rate in Kazakhstan has fallen by 15.2 % from 116,101 to 98,454 cases, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Sept. 14. The most significant decrease,...


Kazakh President Explores Prospects with Foreign Businesses

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with business leaders of China and Qatar to discuss prospects for partnership on Sept. 13, a day after he met with Kazakhstan’s business...


Achieving Peaceful Co-Existence through Recognition of Religious Diversity: Unique Experience of Kazakhstan

Rapid advancements in science, technology, and artificial intelligence have fundamentally transformed both our practical and intellectual lives. Religion, too, has been affected by these changes. Traditionally, it was thought...


Astana’s Weekend Lineup: A Feast of Entertainment for All Tastes

ASTANA — The dynamic capital of Kazakhstan is gearing up for an exhilarating weekend filled with events catering to diverse interests. Whether you are a music aficionado, a comic...


Navigating Kazakhstan’s New Economic Landscape for Foreign Investment

In his recent state-of-the-nation address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan unveiled a comprehensive plan focused on economic reforms and the new economic course for the country. These reforms have...


Kazakhstan Chess Federation Announces Rebranding, Launches Nationwide Tournament

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KCF) announced its major rebranding with an updated corporate identity, strategic concept, and a new logo reflecting the heritage of Kazakh culture, and...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows Nearly 5% from January to August

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 4.9% in January-August, including a 4.4% growth in the real sector and a 4.8% increase in the service sector, Deputy Minister of National...


Kazakhstan Hosts UN Military Observer Training For First Time  

ASTANA – Kazakhstan serves as a training base for the United Nations military observers for the first time, hosting pilot courses for Kazakh service members at the Peace Operations...


Kazakhstan Opens Silkroad Innovation Hub Office to Promote Regional Startups  

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is opening the Silkroad Innovation Hub representative office on Sept. 15 to support and promote startups from Central Asian and Turkic states. The announcement was made...


Kazakh Invest Presents Investment Opportunities for American Business

ASTANA – Kazakh Invest national company released an article on Sept. 11, presenting investment opportunities in Kazakhstan and encouraging U.S. business to explore new areas of cooperation and deepen...


President Tokayev Urges New Model of Dialogue Between State and Businesses

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for a completely new model of relations between the state and businesses as he addressed the country’s business leaders on Sept. 12...


Kazakhstan Organizes International Media Contest Ahead of Fifth World Nomad Games

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has announced its first-ever Alaman international media contest among journalists covering national sports, dedicated to the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games 2024, according to the contest’s...


Kazakhstan’s Enduring Legacy: From Nuclear Test Site to Leader in Disarmament

Thirty-two years ago (Aug. 29, 1991), the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site was permanently closed by a presidential decree in Kazakhstan, then a part of the Soviet Union, contrary to...


Briefing in Astana Assesses Kazakhstan’s Progress on 2030 SDG Agenda

ASTANA – A briefing took place on Sept. 12 in Astana to evaluate Kazakhstan’s progress in fulfilling its commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda led by the United...


Kitap Fest Almaty Promotes Open-Mindness, Celebrates National Literature

ASTANA – Almaty hosted the annual Kitap Fest Almaty book festival on Sept. 9, offering a platform for individuals who cherish creativity and talent, reported the festival’s press service. ...


Kazakh Invest Designates Engineering Industry as Kazakhstan’s Promising Investment Opportunity

ASTANA – Kazakh Invest national company published an article on Sept. 8, presenting Kazakhstan as an attractive destination for investors in the engineering industry, one of the major drivers...


Kazakh Chess Team Secures Silver Medal at FIDE World Women’s Championship 2023

ASTANA – Having reached the final of the International Chess Federation World Women’s Team Championship (FIDE WWTC) 2023 for the first time, Kazakh chess players took the silver medal,...


Kazakhstan Plans to Launch Direct Flights from Aktau and Shymkent to Türkiye

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to open new air routes to Türkiye, including from the cities of Aktau and Shymkent, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said...