China, Central Asia Sign Treaty, Outline New Paths for Cooperation
ASTANA – The second Central Asia-China summit concluded on June 17 with the signing of the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, marking a significant step in strengthening mutual trust and strategic cooperation between the five Central Asian states and China. The summit established new benchmarks for advancing relations among the six countries and…
Kazakhstan Returns 74 Citizens from Iran Amid Escalating Situation
ASTANA – Six Kazakh citizens who were on a business trip in Iran had been assisted in returning home via Azerbaijan, and 68 other citizens were transported to Turkmenistan due to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov at a briefing on June 16 in Astana. “The Ministry…
Kazakh-American Ties Could Benefit from Jackson-Vanik Amendment Repeal, Says US Expert
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United States have strong potential to deepen trade and investment ties, particularly with the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, said Daniel Alan Witt, president of the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC), during an interview with The Astana Times on sidelines of the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025. According to…
Rosatom to Lead International Consortium for Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Project
ASTANA – Kazakhstan selected the Russian Rosatom state atomic energy corporation as the leader of the international consortium for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency announced on June 14. Rosatom was chosen from a shortlist of major global contenders, including China National Nuclear Corporation (China), Électricité de…
Kazakhstan Suspends Flights Over Middle East
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Aviation Administration has announced a ban on flights over six countries in response to heightened regional tensions in the Middle East. “Due to the current situation in the Middle East and the high level of threat to civil aviation safety, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan is imposing a complete ban on flights…
Kazakhstan, US Set to Boost Trade in Tech and Mineral Sectors
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United States express shared commitment to developing trade and investment in IT and critical minerals, during Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu’s official visit to Washington, D.C. on June 12, reported the ministry’s press service. As part of the visit, Foreign Minister Nurtleu met with…
We Are Here to Achieve Better World through Cooperation, Says OSCE Chair-in-Office
ASTANA – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is willing to work with Kazakhstan in achieving a “better world through cooperation,” said Elina Valtonen, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finland’s Foreign Minister, in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. On June 10, Valtonen made her first visit to Kazakhstan as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, holding…
Kazakhstan Climbs to 60th Place in UNDP Human Development Index
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks 60th out of 193 countries and territories in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This marks an improvement of seven positions compared to last year. With an HDI of 0.837, Kazakhstan remains among the countries with a very high level of human development,…
Kazakh Parliament Approves Draft Law on Amnesty Marking 30 Years of Constitution
ASTANA – The Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, has approved a draft law granting amnesty to individuals convicted of crimes that do not pose a serious threat to public or state security, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the country’s Constitution at the plenary session on June 11. The document was prepared…
Kazakhstan’s AIFC Presents Casebook on 18 Green Projects
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) Green Finance Centre has published the Comprehensive Casebook on Sustainable Financial Instruments, showcasing 18 flagship projects with a total value exceeding $650 million, reported AIFC press service. The casebook offers insights into the practical application of sustainable finance instruments, including green, social, sustainability bonds and loans. These…
Slovakia Among Kazakhstan’s Reliable Partners in Europe, Says Tokayev
ASTANA – Slovakia is an important and reliable partner for Kazakhstan in Europe, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as he welcomed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during his official visit to Kazakhstan on June 11, reported Akorda. During one-on-one talks, President Tokayev said that the Slovak Prime Minister’s visit would strengthen the Kazakh-Slovak partnership and…
EU Council’s COEST Delegation Visits Kazakhstan, Reinforces EU-Kazakhstan Partnership
ASTANA – A delegation from the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) visited Kazakhstan on June 8-10, demonstrating a high level of dialogue and mutual commitment to strengthening Kazakhstan-EU partnership, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. The visit, which included the cities of Aktau and Astana, was part…
Kazakh PM Outlines Strategic Role of Investment in Central Asia at Tashkent Forum
ASTANA – Attracting investment is a key factor in the economic development of the Central Asian region, said Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during his speech at the plenary session of the fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum on June 10. “At the recent Astana economic [International] Forum, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized our country’s…
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to Visit Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, will visit Kazakhstan on June 10 for meetings with high-level government officials, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry during the press briefing on June 9. During the visit, the Finnish minister will meet with…
Rwanda Seeks Expanding Ties with Emerging Middle Powers Like Kazakhstan, Says Foreign Minister
ASTANA – Rwanda sees growing value in building ties with emerging middle powers like Kazakhstan, said Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in an interview with The Astana Times on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum (AIF). In May, Rwandan President Paul Kagame made his second official visit to Kazakhstan,…
Work from Anywhere: Remote Jobs on Rise in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – With remote working increasingly becoming the norm globally, the prospect of working from anywhere, as long as one has a laptop and internet, is becoming increasingly appealing to Kazakhstan’s citizens. Recent data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics indicates that the number of remotely employed people in Kazakhstan increased by 18.6% over the…
Climbing Close to Home: Can Ordinary People Conquer Almaty’s Iconic Peaks?
ASTANA – Just outside Almaty, some of the region’s most stunning peaks of the Zailiyskiy Alatau have drawn climbers to their summits for decades. The Astana Times set out to investigate if someone ordinary could climb the mountains as well. Ada Dussali, vice-president of the Almaty Mountaineering Federation in Almaty, also heads the Almaty Mountaineering…
Middle Corridor Vital for Resilient and Diversified Trade Networks, Experts Say at AIF 2025
ASTANA – The development of the Middle Corridor will complement Kazakhstan’s role in global logistics and trade, while enhancing the region’s resilience against global supply chain disruptions, said experts at the Next Silk Roads: Mapping the Future of Global Trade panel session on the second day of the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025. Capitalizing on…
No Winners in Trade War, Experts Say at AIF2025
ASTANA – There are no winners in a trade war, according to experts attending a panel session titled Trade as a Weapon: The Future of Economic Statecraft, during the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 on May 29. High tariffs imposed by the U.S. on its trading partners, the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical tensions…
Kazakh-French Investment Forum Yields 15 Agreements Across Key Sectors
ASTANA – The Kazakh-French Investment Forum concluded with 15 documents on May 28 in Astana, including memorandums, investment agreements, and contracts in the fields of energy, tourism, healthcare, and water resource management. Aimed at facilitating cross-border partnerships, the forum, taking place ahead of the Astana International Forum, highlighted the multi-faceted nature of Kazakh-French cooperation. “Cooperation…
How Telemetry Tracking Aids Saiga Conservation in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Wildlife experts explained how satellite telemetry tracking equipment maps the lives of saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan and how monitoring the movements of these endangered species helps identify the best ways to protect them during an online event organized by Global Rewilding Alliance on May 23. The team from the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative…
Tazy Breeder Keeps Tradition Alive From One Generation to Next
ASTANA – Tazy, one of the oldest native Kazakh dog breeds, are bred as hunters and trained by the local huntsmen. Sultan Yerimbetov is one of the tazy dog breeders in the Abai village of the Turkistan Region. There is a continuity of commitment within families in dog breeding. Succeeding generations replace each other in…
Central Asia Faces Worsening Water Crisis from Glacier Melt, UN Report Says
ASTANA – Downstream countries in Central Asia could face growing water shortages as intensive agricultural practices, climate change, and population growth continue at an unprecedented pace, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2025 titled Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers, presented online on May 21. The event was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of…
For International Biodiversity Day, Kazakhstan Unveils 10-Year Conservation Plan
ASTANA – Ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity, annually celebrated on May 22, Kazakhstan presented its national benchmarks for biodiversity conservation in its Concept on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for 2025-2035. The draft was developed by the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources…
Astana Opera Premieres Three Ballets by French Choreographer Roland Petit
ASTANA – The Astana Opera audience was treated to a thrilling display of talent with a May 16 premiere of three one-act ballets by a world-renowned French choreographer Roland Petit. The three ballets were presented as part of the Operaliya 2025 International Festival. Petit’s name holds a special place in the history of 20th-century ballet,…
