Nauryz Ball in Astana Highlights Diplomacy, Tradition and Renewal
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the Nauryz Ball on March 16, a special event that served as a platform for cultural and humanitarian dialogue, highlighting Kazakhstan’s rich historical heritage, national traditions and modern social development. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and foreign partner institutions accredited in…
China’s Financial Power Strategy Opens New Prospects for Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Ahead of its 15th Five-Year Plan, China has completed a structural shift in its financial system, moving from rapid expansion of banking assets to a strategy aimed at becoming a financial power. Analysts say the transition could reshape China’s economy and create new opportunities for Kazakhstan, strengthening its role as a bridge between…
Foreign Observers Cite High Turnout, Smooth Voting in Kazakhstan Referendum
ASTANA – International observers noted relatively high voter turnout and reported no major violations that could affect the outcome of Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum on March 15. The Central Election Commission accredited 359 observers from 11 international organizations and 38 foreign countries. Representatives of several observation missions shared their assessments after visiting polling stations nationwide. Shanghai…
Geopolitical Instability Challenges Central Asia’s Path to Indian Ocean
ASTANA – Rising geopolitical tensions, including air attacks and attempts to overthrow the government in Iran, as well as clashes along the Afghan-Pakistani border, are raising new questions about Central Asia’s ability to maintain maritime trade through ports in Iran and Pakistan. Securing reliable access to the sea through these ports has long been a…
Kazakh Women Scientists Highlight Advances in Medicine
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a meeting with women scientists on March 5 to mark International Women’s Day, highlighting their contributions to research shaping modern medicine and healthcare. During the event, researchers discussed recent scientific developments ranging from personalized treatment for diabetes to the impact of nutrition and gut microbiota on human health. According…
Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe
ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. At 76, the Kazakh traveler has set out on the fourth stage of his long-distance adventures, this time across Europe. His route begins in Serbia and stretches through Hungary, Austria and Germany before reaching…
Kazakhstan, UN Present New Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030
ASTANA – The Steering Committee of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework presented the main parameters of a new cooperation program for 2026-2030 on Feb. 27 at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The framework outlines four priority areas: human development, including health care, education and social protection; economic diversification and decent work; sustainable environmental…
Between Kazakhstan and Poland: Kazakh Writer Bridges Cultures Through Literature
ASTANA – In Poland, Yuriy Serebriansky is known as a cultural scholar and editor of a magazine focused on the history and life of Kazakhstan’s Polish diaspora. In Kazakhstan and beyond, he is recognized as a writer whose works span poetry, prose, children’s literature and nonfiction, all shaped by a life lived across cultures, countries…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 180th Anniversary of Prominent Poet Zhambyl Zhabayev
ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 180th anniversary of renowned Kazakh akyn (poet) and improviser Zhambyl Zhabayev on Feb. 28. Widely regarded as a giant of folk poetry, his song legacy remains a defining chapter in the history of Kazakh verse. Early life and artistic path Zhabayev was born in 1846 in an aul (village in…
Kazakh Guide Becomes Licensed Cultural Ambassador in France
ASTANA – Janara Sayasat has turned her life in the French capital into both a profession and a cultural mission. A Kazakh licensed by France’s Ministry of Culture to work as an official tour guide in Paris, she introduces visitors to the country’s historic landmarks while building a bridge between French and Kazakh cultures. In…
How Nature Shaped Life in Kazakh Steppe in Winter
ASTANA – Life in the Kazakh steppe followed a strict seasonal order shaped by nature, customary law and pastoral rhythms. Far from chaotic wandering, nomadic society functioned as a structured system in which livestock breeding determined social organization, legal norms and even political decisions. Surviving winter was the central objective of this system. Bereket Karibayev,…
Kazakhstan Unveils 300 Rare Artifacts at National Archaeology Exhibition
ASTANA – The national exhibition titled “New Discoveries in the Archaeology of Kazakhstan” opened Feb. 14 in Astana, presenting recent research by the Margulan Institute of Archaeology alongside rare artifacts from leading museums and scientific institutions nationwide. The exhibition is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. It traces the country’s history from early…
How Ballet Becomes Bridge Across Cultures in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s creative sector is strengthening international cultural ties through ballet, as the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography hosts exchange projects with artists and schools from Spain and South Korea, bringing together diverse dance traditions and training methods. Spanish choreographer Carlos Romero is currently working with Kazakh students in Astana and preparing a second…
What Kazakhstan’s Digital Code Brings to Citizens and Businesses
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has taken a major step toward regulating life online with the signing of the new Digital Code on Jan. 9, a sweeping legal framework designed to protect rights and bring order to the country’s rapidly expanding digital environment. Experts view the Digital Code as moving the digital environment from a gray area…
How Kassym Khan’s Laws Laid Foundation of Kazakh Statehood
ASTANA – The reign of Kassym Khan between 1511 and 1521 marked one of the most important periods in the history of the Kazakh Khanate, when the state reached the height of its power and became one of the most influential political forces in the region. Bereket Karibayev, a doctor of historical sciences and professor…
KASE Reports Strong Market Growth
ASTANA – Trading volume at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) increased by 20% year on year in 2025, while the number of transactions rose by 74% to 3.4 million (US$6,906), reflecting stronger investor activity across multiple asset classes, said Adil Mukhamejanov, chairperson of the KASE management board, on Feb. 10 in Astana. Delivering his remarks…
Volunteerism as Way of Life in Kazakhstan
This year has been designated the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, recognizing the vital role volunteers play in addressing social challenges and strengthening communities worldwide. For Kazakhstan, this recognition reflects not only current civic engagement but also a long-standing tradition of mutual assistance deeply rooted in the country’s history. Kazakhstan’s modern volunteer movement…
Kazakh Tattoo Artist Reimagines National Heritage in Contemporary Ink
ASTANA – For centuries, Kazakh ornaments told stories without words, woven into textiles, carved into wood, and engraved into metal. Today, those same symbols are being etched into skin, carrying ancient meanings into a modern context. Tattoo artist Saltanat Kuanova is among the pioneers redefining how Kazakhstan’s visual heritage lives on, turning national ornamentation into…
Kazakhstan Seeks Balance Between AI Innovation and Regulation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Association for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, also known as Qaz.AI, is working with government and industry leaders to shape new rules for AI as officials seek to encourage innovation while guarding against manipulation and other risks, said Temirlan Ziyatov, the association’s chairman, in an interview with The Astana Times. In a…
Experts Highlight Trade, Transit Focus Ahead of Tokayev’s Pakistan Visit
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Pakistan on Feb. 3–4, where he is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari and attend the Kazakhstan-Pakistan business forum. The talks will focus on strengthening political dialogue and expanding trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. According…
Expert Warns of Rising Threat from Space Debris
ASTANA – Space exploration and environmental risks are increasingly intertwined as defunct spacecraft turn into uncontrolled debris orbiting Earth. Dr. Dmitry Sizov, an aerospace engineering expert at Astana-based Nazarbayev University, discussed the growing threat of space debris and its global implications during a lecture at the university on Jan. 29. Space pollution problem As space…
Kazakhstan Adopts Long-Term Strategy to Protect Children’s Rights
ASTANA – The government has approved the Children of Kazakhstan program on Jan. 27, aimed at consolidating and systematizing existing mechanisms to protect children’s rights across key sectors. The five-year program was developed by the Ministry of Education, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, and relevant ministries. It aims to improve the consistency and effectiveness of…
Vogue Names Kazakhstan Among Top Travel Destinations for 2025
ASTANA – International magazine Vogue has included Kazakhstan in its list of the world’s 14 best travel destinations for 2025, the publication reported on Dec. 18. In its annual roundup, The 14 Best Places Vogue Editors Visited in 2025, the editors highlighted destinations that made the strongest impression during their travels over the past year.…
How History and DNA Trace Origins of Kazakh People
ASTANA – The ethnic history of the Kazakh people is complex, shaped by centuries of migration, cultural interaction and political change across Central Asia. Modern historical sources and DNA research now offer new insights into how the Kazakh nation emerged and how traditional genealogies, known as shezhire, can be verified scientifically. In an interview with…
Experts Reflect on Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Reform
ASTANA – Kazakhstan entered 2026 with a renewed focus on political reforms and governance priorities following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s address at the kurultai in Kyzylorda on Jan. 20. In his January interview, Tokayev described the coming year as decisive, citing a planned constitutional reform referendum and large-scale amendments comparable to adopting a new constitution. Ljubica…
