Central Asia and China Reach Eternal Strategic Partnership, Says President Tokayev
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared that ties between Central Asia and China have reached the level of an eternal and comprehensive strategic partnership as he addressed the second Central Asia-China summit on June 17 in Astana, reported Akorda. According to Tokayev, the combined GDP of the Central Asian region is approaching the half-trillion-dollar mark.…
How Kazakhstan Plans to Achieve 6% GDP Growth
ASTANA – All fields of the real sector must work in accordance with the established indicators to achieve 6% GDP growth in 2025, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said during a meeting on June 16 to assess economic performance over the first five months of the year. As stated…
Kazakhstan Ranks Among Top Three in World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan secured a top three finish in the overall standings at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2025, held June 13-15 in Xi’an, China, reported the National Olympic Committee. Throughout the season, Kazakh athletes consistently placed high in various stages, ultimately earning the bronze medal in the group competition based on total…
Astana Launches Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan in Astana hosted a grand opening ceremony of the Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan with the exhibition “Silk and the Silk Road: from China to Kazakhstan” on June 16, reported the Tourism Industry Committee. The event was attended by Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov,…
Central Asia, China to Sign $17 Billion in Deals at Astana Business Council
ASTANA – Central Asian countries and China are set to sign more than 35 memorandums worth over $17 billion during the second meeting of the China-Central Asia Business Council in Astana on June 17, reported Kazinform. According to Murat Karimsakov, the deputy chairman of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and chairman of Kazakhstan’s Foreign…
Kazakh Runners Open Up About Why They Run
ASTANA – On June 1, the Astana Half Marathon brought together over 6,000 runners from 38 countries. Beyond medals and finish lines, there are personal stories of runners. With running gaining momentum in Kazakhstan in recent years, growing from just a physical activity to a form of self-expression, Kazakh runners share with The Astana Times…
Council of Europe Highlights Kazakhstan’s Role in Democracy and Global Stability
ASTANA – Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) and Former President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset underscored Kazakhstan’s geographic and geopolitical significance during his lecture “Disinformation – A Threat to European Democracy” on May 29 at Nazarbayev University. Positioned between east and west, north and south, Kazakhstan is, he said, central to…
President Tokayev Charts Key Areas for Сentral Asia Deeper Ties with Italy at Landmark Summit
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined his vision for promising areas of cooperation with Italy during the first Central Asia+Italy summit on May 30. He prioritized deepening trade and economic ties amid global tariff conflicts, suggesting launching joint projects, expanding the product line, primarily through non-raw materials products with high added value, and increasing exports…
Prime Minister of Italy Calls for Courage to Take New Paths at AIF2025
ASTANA – Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni called for courage to look beyond geographical boundaries and take new paths during a special session of the Astana International Forum, where she took part jointly with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 30. According to Meloni, Italy was the first nation in the European Union (EU) to…
Underground Tunnel Project to Connect Caspian and Black Seas
ASTANA – An Azerbaijani company has put forward a proposal to connect the Caspian and Black Seas via an underground tunnel to grant Caspian countries direct access to the world ocean, Khabar TV Channel reported on May 27. The proposed tunnel, ten meters in diameter, would rely on gravity to channel water from the Black…
Kazakhstan Updates Red Book List: Who’s In, Who’s Out in 2025
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has revealed plans to revise the national Red Book of rare and endangered species, updating which animals will remain under protection and which can be removed, Kazinform reported on May 27. The fifth edition of the Red Book in 2025 lists 217 animal species and…
Astana International Forum 2025 Kicks Off Today
ASTANA – The Astana International Forum (AIF), a key platform for global dialogue and cooperation, opens today at the Congress Centre in the EXPO Business District of Astana. Held under the theme Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future, the forum gathers high-level participants from governments, international organizations, businesses, and academia to engage in transformative discussions and…
Astana International Forum to Generate Over $5 Million for Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Astana International Forum (AIF) is expected to generate a multiplier economic effect of more than 2.6 billion tenge (over US$5 million) for the capital and the country, driven by the influx of international guests, reported the AIF’s press service. According to organizers, visitors have reserved rooms in 37 major hotels in the…
Kazakhstan, Rwanda Open New Chapter in Bilateral Relations
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s visit to Kazakhstan on May 28 as historic, marking the start of a new chapter in relations, reported Akorda. New era of Kazakhstan–Rwanda relations Kagame arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit ahead of the Astana International Forum. During their meeting, Tokayev emphasized the potential…
Renowned Kazakh Poet Presents New Edition of “Az i Ya”
ASTANA – A new edition of “Az i Ya,” the work by renowned Kazakh poet Olzhas Suleimenov, was presented at the seventh international conference The Birth of Turkic-Slavic Studies at Narxoz University in Almaty on May 27. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the book’s original publication in 1975. According to the Bulat Utemuratov…
One Year Since Kazakhstan Criminalized Domestic Violence: What Numbers Reveal
ASTANA – Last year, Kazakhstan adopted a major law criminalizing domestic violence following nationwide outrage over the murder of Saltanat Nukenova in November 2023. Just over a year after the law was signed, The Astana Times examines official data and accounts from crisis centers on whether the new legal framework is delivering on its promises. …
Kazakhstan’s Population Projected to Reach 26.3 Million by 2050
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population is expected to reach 26.3 million by the end of 2050, according to the latest forecasts of the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF). As of Jan. 1, the country’s population stood at over 20.3 million. Of this, 8.7 million people (42.8%) were under the age of 25, 9.7 million (48.0%) were…
World Election Bodies Association Sees Kazakhstan As Gateway to Turkic World
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) is a gateway to the Turkic world, Secretary General of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) In-sik Jang said during his first official visit to Kazakhstan on May 12-16, reported the CEC’s press service. At a meeting with CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov, Jang expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s…
UN Praises Kazakhstan’s Humanitarian Efforts in Jusan Operation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s experience in reintegrating citizens from conflict zones was highly appreciated during the 34th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Kazinform reported on May 22. Representatives from the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Austrian Foreign Ministry commended Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Names Top 10 Investor Countries Over Past Decade
ASTANA – The top 10 countries that have invested the most in Kazakhstan from 2015 to 2024 include the Netherlands, the United States, Switzerland, Russia, China, Belgium, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Türkiye, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. The largest and most stable growth of foreign direct investment (FDI) during this period…
Kazakhstan Implements $19.5 Billion Projects in Metallurgical and Petrochemical Sectors
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is advancing five major initiatives with a total investment of approximately $19.5 billion in the metallurgical and petrochemical sectors, expected to create over 8,000 permanent jobs, as was reported during a May 21 government meeting. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the government also reviewed five projects in the chemical and…
Kazakh-American Expedition Returns to Akmola to Uncover Origins of Horse Domestication
ASTANA – A Kazakh-American archaeological expedition launched new excavations at the Krasny Yar settlement in Akmola Region on May 20 to uncover fresh evidence about the domestication of horses and cattle, a key moment in the development of human civilization, Kazinform reported. The project is led by Sergei Zakharov, the senior researcher at Margulan Institute…
New York Film Academy Branch in Kazakhstan Hosts First Open Day
ASTANA – The newly launched Kazakhstan branch of the New York Film Academy (NYFA) hosted its first open day on May 17 in Kaskelen near Almaty, bringing together applicants, NYFA alumni, and local film industry professionals, reported the NYFA Kazakhstan’s press service. Previously, Kazakh students seeking an American film education had to travel to the…
Astana International Financial Centre Hosts Islamic Finance Forum
ASTANA – The Islamic Finance and Business Forum, held on May 19 at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), gathered over 200 participants from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported the AIFC’s press service. The event marked a key step in advancing Islamic finance in the region, building cross-border partnerships,…
President Tokayev Praises Kazakhstan’s Culture and Art Workers
ASTANA – On the eve of Culture and Arts Workers’ Day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised the contributions of Kazakhstan’s cultural figures on May 20, highlighting their role in enriching the nation’s spiritual life and preserving its identity, reported Akorda. Tokayev emphasized that Kazakh art, including music, cinema, and international events such as the World Nomad…
