Articles by Dana omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Georgia following the June 29 talks focused on expanding political, economic, transport and humanitarian cooperation. Strategic partnership to deepen bilateral cooperation During the meeting between members of both delegations, the officials discussed…

ASTANA – Kazakh composer and musician Dana Zulpykhar has contributed to the soundtrack of Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” recording parts for the traditional Kazakh instruments dombyra and kobyz used in the series’ musical score.   Zulpykhar shared the news on social media, saying she had recorded the instruments for the soundtrack composed by Takeshi Furukawa.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Senate held its final session on June 29, concluding the 30-year history of the upper house ahead of the country’s transition to a unicameral parliamentary system under the new Constitution, said Senate Chair Maulen Ashimbayev. Ashimbayev said the current parliamentary session will officially end at a joint sitting of both chambers on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion during talks between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at the ninth China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi. The meeting also focused on expanding investment and transport connectivity, as well as…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s efforts to deepen its strategic partnership with the European Union, advance the development of the Middle Corridor transport route, attract major European investment, and expand cooperation with China in…

ASTANA – From opera and ballet to open-air concerts and ethnocultural festivals, the last weekend of June offers something for every taste. The Astana Times editorial team rounds up some of the weekend’s highlights to make the most of your summer with your family and friends. Astana “Aida” opera, June 26-28 Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” is…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has published updated guidance on visa-free travel and entry requirements, outlining which countries citizens can visit without a visa and which additional permits may be required. Holders of ordinary Kazakh passports may stay visa-free for up to 90 days in countries including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Georgia, Colombia, Moldova,…

ASTANA – The Council of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), chaired by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, on June 25, approved the bank’s development strategy for 2027-2031 and reviewed its 2025 performance, highlighting stronger-than-planned investment growth across member states. The EDB Council members from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Marking…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched a major dredging project at the Aktau seaport to increase cargo throughput on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), known as the Middle Corridor, and strengthening the country’s role as a key transport and logistics hub linking Asia and Europe. The project, being implemented by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 67th among 169 countries in the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, improving by three positions from the previous year, while its overall score increased from 71.5 to 72.0, according to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report highlights the need for practical implementation mechanisms as countries enter the final…

ASTANA — Chinese writer and 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Mo Yan visited Kazakhstan for the first time, meeting with writers, scholars, students, and readers in Almaty and Astana on June 22-23 to promote cultural and literary cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. During a meeting at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Mo Yan…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on June 23, focusing on strengthening Kazakhstan-EU strategic partnership in trade, investment, transport connectivity, and energy cooperation. The meeting covered key areas including critical raw materials, transport and logistics, digital transformation, energy cooperation, and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union signed a package of agreements on science, innovation, artificial intelligence, and higher education on June 23 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Belgium. As part of the visit, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek met with Maria Cristina Russo, European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Research…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium have agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries, transport connectivity, education and innovation following talks between Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot on June 23 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Brussels. The officials discussed opportunities to deepen political dialogue,…

ASTANA — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of up to 230 million euros (US$262.3 million) in Japanese yen equivalent to help complete the modernization of a key road section in western Kazakhstan, supporting the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor, the EU’s Global Gateway flagship initiative. The financing will…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chinese Premier Li Qiang discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, transport, and agriculture during talks in China, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The officials reviewed the implementation of agreements reached by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Xi Jinping and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov took part in a business conference on June 22, held as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Brussels, focused on strengthening connectivity between Kazakhstan and the European Union through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor. Issetov described the Middle Corridor as a key…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an informal meeting with European Council President António Costa and met with Kazakh citizens studying and working in Belgium during his official visit to Brussels on June 22 ahead of talks with European Union leaders on strengthening Kazakhstan-EU cooperation. Addressing students and professionals, Tokayev congratulated them on the adoption…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s state theaters attracted more than 2.8 million spectators and staged around 16,000 performances since the start of the current season, reflecting growing public interest in the performing arts and continued expansion of the country’s cultural sector. The country’s 59 state theaters, which employ more than 8,100 people, presented 410 new productions during…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the Middle Corridor’s growing role, Kazakhstan’s expanding ties with Spain, the region’s critical minerals potential, and more. Kazakhstan’s skies welcome Central Asia’s first Paragliding World Cup Around 150 pilots from 33 countries…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Montenegro agreed to deepen political dialogue and broaden cooperation in trade, transport, logistics, tourism, education, and innovation during Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović’s first official visit to Kazakhstan, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. During talks on June 19, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Montenegro as a reliable partner in…

ASTANA – External debt of Central Asian countries excluding Turkmenistan increased by 34.9% over the past five years, reaching nearly $290.8 billion in 2025, according to data from the CIS Statistical Committee and the Eurasian Economic Commission. Kazakhstan accounts for the largest share of regional debt, while Uzbekistan recorded the fastest growth over the same…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is considering the construction of a grain terminal or container handling facilities on a 15-hectare plot allocated by Iran at the strategic Shahid Rajaee port near the Strait of Hormuz, said Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin on the sidelines of the Senate on June 18. Iran remains a key transit gateway…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has improved its position in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, ranking 44th out of 163 countries, up five places from last year, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Published by the IEP, the index assesses countries based on 23 indicators, including levels of crime, internal conflict, public safety,…

ASTANA – Cross-border money transfers from Kazakhstan declined in January-April, extending a downward trend in outbound remittances. Residents transferred 184.4 billion tenge (US$377.9 million) abroad during the first four months of the year, down from 190.5 billion tenge (US$390.4 million) a year earlier. Incoming transfers also decreased, falling to 63.1 billion tenge (US$129.3 million) from…