Articles by Malika Orazgaliyeva

Nur-Sultan – Foreign ministers from Central Asia and Japan discussed ways Japan’s economic and technical development could help modernise and diversify Central Asian economies during the May 18 Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue (CAJD) in Dushanbe. “Central Asia is one of the dynamically developing regions of the world, which is strategically situated and has significant…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov met with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov as well as participated in the Foreign Ministers’ Council (FMC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and the FMC of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during a May 20-22 official visit to Bishkek. Atamkulov and Jeenbekov…

NUR-SULTAN – The European Commission adopted May 15 a new strategy on relations with Central Asia meant to deepen relations and capitalise on the region’s growing influence. “Central Asia has always been a key region: for its history, for its culture, and for its role of connecting East and West. Today it is becoming more…

NUR-SULTAN – In this exclusive interview, Pavlodar Region Akim (Governor) Bulat Bakauov talks about industrial development, fields attractive for foreign investments, tourism and infrastructure. What socio-economic issues are on the agenda in your region? What work is planned to improve performance in the coming years? We have been increasing industrial production in the region for…

NUR-SULTAN – Two-hundred and thirty-one Kazakh citizens, including 156 children, were evacuated from Syria May 7 and May 9, according to a special announcement by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The evacuations were part of a large-scale humanitarian effort, called Operation Jusan, that began in January under former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The most recent evacuees included…

NUR-SULTAN – Incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ak Zhol Democratic Party nominee Daniya Yespayeva have collected the most signatures of the seven candidates registered as of May 6 by the Kazakh Central Election Commission for the June 9 presidential election. According to CEC regulations, the candidates are required to collect at least 118,146 signatures, which…

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Central Electoral Commission (CEC) registered May 3 President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as the Nur Otan party candidate for the June 9 presidential election after Tokayev collected 313,653 signatures from 17 regions of Kazakhstan. Candidates are required to collect at least 118,146 signatures, which is 1 percent of Kazakhstan’s 11,814,019 registered voters, according…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev briefed the April 25-27 Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on the country’s infrastructure development and transport potential. “Over the past ten years, Kazakhstan has invested about $30 billion on infrastructure development, transport and logistics assets and competence. Almost 3,000 kilometres of national railways and…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid the state visit to neighbouring Uzbekistan April 14-15. The visit saw a number of intergovernmental documents signed in the area of economy, investment, defence and migration. Tokayev’s visit to Tashkent saw the heads of the two states sign the Joint Statement outlining key priorities for further expansion of…

NUR-SULTAN – In this exclusive interview, Atyrau Region Akim (Governor) Nurlan Nogayev talks about continued efforts to develop major industries and SMEs in the region famous for its abundant oil and gas reserves and being home to Tengiz, one of the world’s largest onshore oil fields. What types of social and economic development issues are…

NUR-SULTAN­ – Foreign observers and international organisations observing Kazakhstan’s June 9 presidential election must complete an accreditation process and can be accompanied by one interpreter, according to Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan rules announced April 12. The accreditation process will be conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must be completed by June 3…

NUR-SULTAN – Presidential hopefuls will need to gather approximately 118,000 signatures to be included on the ballot for Kazakhstan’s June 9 early presidential election, according to an April 10 announcement by the Kazakh Central Election Commission (CEC). Nominations began April 10 and will continue until 6 p.m. April 28. Candidates must be nominated, according to…

NUR-SULTAN – The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) approved April 5 in Moscow a plan for multi-level consultations between CIS foreign ministries for 2019, drafts of multiple international treaties and an agreement concerning preservation of World War II history. The consultation plan includes plans to hold meetings on…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko briefed professors and students at the March 28 lecture at the Italian Society for International Organisations (SIOI) in Rome on ways Kazakhstan is working on deeper cooperation among Central Asian states. President of SIOI and the former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini introduced Vassilenko noting the role…

NUR-SULTAN – In an exclusive interview to this newspaper, Akim (Governor) of Kyzylorda Region Krymbek Kusherbayev discusses major developments in the region to develop industry based on the public-private partnership principle, promote tourism to the region famous for hosting the Baikonur space launch site, among other subjects. What is on the agenda in terms of…

ASTANA– President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed economic, transport and digitisation cooperation among other topics with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan March 13-14 in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in tourism, space exploration and agriculture as well as…

ASTANA – As the series of exclusive interviews with the regional governors in Kazakhstan continues, Akim (Governor) of Kostanai region Arkhimed Mukhambetov describes the efforts of his administration aimed at attracting major investments thanks to the specially created industrial zone, while its abundant recreational resources provide ample opportunities for developing tourism of various sorts. What…

ASTANA­ – Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov stressed the need to find comprehensive solutions to the Palestinian problem, promote the Middle East peace process and stabilise Afghanistan during the March 1-2 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi. Foreign ministers and top officials…

ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Akim (Governor) of Almaty oblast Amandyk Batalov shares his views on the region’s transformation from a formerly agrarian to a combined agrarian and industrial one, its efforts to attract tourists to its diverse destinations as well as its growing role as a key entry point into…

ASTANA – The Kazakh economy has reached the point of stability, Deputy Prime Minister Yerbolat Dossayev said Jan. 31 during an extended government meeting in which government officials reported 2018 performance outcomes to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “GDP [gross domestic product] grew four percent, and 70 percent of growth was provided by the manufacturing sectors.…

ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Karaganda region Akim (Governor) Yerlan Koshanov speaks about the prospects of the region’s economic development, including infrastructure construction, and plans to attract tourists to the most promising destinations. What is on the socio-economic agenda for the region? What is planned to improve the situation in…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Beibut Atamkulov stressed the need to establish a closer relationship between India and Central Asia during the Jan. 13 India-Central Asia-Afghanistan Dialogue in Samarkand. The event included the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the host nation, Uzbekistan. Atamkulov urged the implementation of joint projects…

ASTANA­ – Students from seven Astana schools and representatives from seven diplomatic missions gathered Dec. 13 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finish preparations for the final meeting of the model UN, titled Future Energy. The preparations were part of the Jas Diplomat educational project under the national Rukhani Zhangyru programme. The programme seeks…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its proposals to strengthen the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to increase its role in addressing international challenges during the organisation’s Dec. 6 Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Milan. Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov briefed the meeting on President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s proposal to hold…

ASTANA – Prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states met Nov. 27 in Minsk, Belarus to discuss economic cooperation, the status of previous agreements and future cooperation. The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC) meeting included the prime ministers of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Belarus Sergei Rumas, Kyrgyzstan Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziev, the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and…

ASTANA– The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs held Nov. 26 a ceremony marking the issuance of a postage stamp from the memorable and jubilee dates series titled Membership of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Nations Security Council. In 2016, 130 UN member states elected Kazakhstan as the first Central Asian country to be…

ASTANA – The presidents and heads of government of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Council member states met in Astana Nov. 8 to discuss regional security, organisational operations and summarise Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in 2018. The meeting was attended by presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Sooronbay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin…

ASTANA – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev met with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev Nov. 1 in Astana to discuss bilateral relations. Nazarbayev stressed during his meeting with Medvedev the importance of expanding economic cooperation and highlighted the countries’ cooperation within international organisations, such as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first ever UN peacekeeping contingent that is part of an Indian battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) arrived in Lebanon Oct. 31. The contingent will patrol areas, organise observer posts and supervise ceasefires. “We are proud to send Kazakhstan’s first contingent to serve for UN peacekeeping. One hundred…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed the law “On ratification of the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Kazakhstan and India concerning arrangements for joint deployment of the Kazakh peacekeeping contingent as part of Indian battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” the presidential press service reported. The memorandum provides…

ASTANA­ – The Kazakh government, World Health Organisation and UNICEF co-hosted an Oct 25-26 Global Conference in Astana on primary healthcare (PHC). This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata, which was adopted at the International Conference of Primary Care in 1978 in what was then the capital of the Kazakh Soviet…

ASTANA – While visiting Kazakhstan Oct. 9-10, President of Serbia Alexander Vucic met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, took part in the Kazakhstan-Serbia Business Forum and addressed the Sixth Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional. According to Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan and Serbia have dynamically developing relations. “Our meetings demonstrate that the two countries are interested…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev directed the government to work to improve the lives of Kazakh citizens during his annual Oct. 5 state-of-the-nation address. “Over the past 20 years, the country has raised $300 billion of direct foreign investment. We see the development of small and medium-sized enterprises serving as the foundation for our…

ASTANA — Representatives of Caspian region governments, international organisations and independent experts agreed Sept. 28 in Astana to organise a Caspian Sea investment forum every two years in a Caspian city. The announcement followed a one-day conference titled, The Caspian Sea in the 21st Century: Cooperation and Security. The conference was hosted by the Kazakh…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the Sept. 3 Sixth Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (CCTS) in Choplon-Ata, suggesting avenues for cooperation and noting Kazakhstan’s achievements as council chair. The summit focused on national sports and youth policy and was attended by the presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbek President…

ASTANA – Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) representatives, Kazakh officials and others involved in the global nuclear non-proliferation effort gathered in Astana Aug. 29 for a five-day CTBTO conference. August 29 is the date in 1991 when Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev shut down the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. The Soviet Union conducted more than…

ASTANA – The Kazakh postal service, KazPost, issued a new postage stamp Aug. 28 honouring The ATOM Project, a global anti-nuclear weapons initiative launched by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “Today is a very significant day both for The ATOM Project and for the global anti-nuclear movement. The launch of the stamp and its further use…

ASTANA ­­– Kazakh Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev participated Aug. 18 in Human Resources in the Framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, an annual pedagogical workers’ conference.  He reported on the Ministry’s activities to advance the country’s education system. Sagadiyev noted that thanks to the attention of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the government,…

ASTANA – Leading pump manufacturer Wilo opened a plant Aug. 23 near Almaty. The plant will serve Kazakhstan and Central Asia, reported wilo.com. “Our investment in Wilo’s new site in Kazakhstan is part of Wilo’s intensified global localisation strategy. It will strengthen our competitive position not only in Kazakhstan but also in the entire Central…

ASTANA­­ – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev discussed bilateral ties during the seventh session of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council Aug. 17. The two government leaders discussed trade and economic cooperation, as well as the expansion of investment projects in water and energy, tourism, transit and transport areas, reported primeminister.kz.…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs  Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Foreign Minister of India Sushma Swaraj discussed cooperation between the two countries as well as regional and international issues Aug. 3 in Astana. “During today’s fruitful negotiations we agreed on a number of matters concerning the main international and regional issues. I am sure that…

ASTANA – The Aug. 22 eighth session of the Kazakh-Austrian intergovernmental commission on economic, agricultural, environmental, industrial, technical and technological cooperation discussed bilateral cooperation in energy, mining, environmental protection, transport and infrastructure, agriculture, health and multilateral cooperation. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko who co-chaired the meeting for the Kazakh side thanked Austria for its…

ASTANA­­ – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed their first Military Cooperation Plan during a recent meeting between Kazakh Minister of Defence Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Defence Minister Colonel General Qobul Berdiyev, reported the Kazakh Military of Defence website Aug. 19. The cooperation plan calls for joint operational and combat training and…

ASTANA ­­– Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah travelled to Kazakhstan Aug. 19 to unveil Afghan National Day at EXPO 2017 and meet with the country’s high officials and business circles. Abdullah met with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev to discuss further developing trade and economic cooperation, as well as implementing the agreements concluded by presidents…

ASTANA – During his first official visit to Kazakhstan, Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Fernando Huanacuni Mamani met Aug. 17 with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev and Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov. Sagintayev and Huanacuni discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation in the energy, culture, science and education spheres. The sides expressed interest in creating and…

ASTANA – This year Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced a wide-ranging policy “Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan’s identity” outlining steps for modernisation of social norms. As one of its key characteristics, Nazarbayev emphasised “the ability to adopt and learn from the experiences of other people and countries.” One of the related projects in…

ASTANA – The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Foreign Ministers Council adopted during its July 17 meeting in Minsk Belarus measures to counter information technology crimes and approved a Kazakh proposal to establish favourable price conditions for the sale of military equipment to partners. The council also agreed to intensify the activities of its working…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently hosted a seminar to increase the potential of Afghanistan’s civil servants and representatives of non-governmental organisations as part of Kazakhstan’s evolving official development assistance (ODA) system. The event was supported the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Kazakhstan and the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation.…

ASTANA – The Latvian pavilion held the international conference “Prospects of global transport communication. Eurasian potential” July 11 in the framework of the Week of Transit and Logistics at EXPO 2017. Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Transport Minister Uldis Augulis, President of the Latvian Railways Edvins Berzins, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin and Chairman of…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed bilateral political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation July 12 in the Akorda presidential residence. It was Steinmeier’s first official visit to Kazakhstan as president and was timed to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries this year. Nazarbayev…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis discussed July 10 in Astana bilateral trade and economic cooperation in the light and food industries, agriculture, tourism, education, training of civil aviation personnel and medical tourism, reported primeminister.kz. They also focused on transit transport as well as small and medium-sized business development. One…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service July 10. The meeting gathered 84 honorary consuls of Kazakhstan in 45 countries and 47 honorary consuls of 31 foreign states accredited in Kazakhstan. First Deputy Foreign…

ASTANA – On July 2, the residents of Almaty celebrated their annual Alpiniada at the Shymbulak Ski Resort outside the city. The festival, a massive joint climb of a 4,376-metre peak called Nazarbayev Peak, marks Astana Day. This year, more than 5,000 people, including foreign tourists, took part, according to the Almaty Physical Culture and…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met July 3 with the heads diplomatic missions and representations of international organisations accredited in the country. The meeting, which also included top officials of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service. “In the first years of independence, we…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto discussed bilateral relations and international issues June 26 in Astana. Abdrakhmanov noted the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, mentioning the high level of bilateral contact and saying the two countries have historical roots beyond their political and economic…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko briefed the June 19-20 annual Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Asian Conference titled Common Challenges and Common Opportunities in Berlin on Kazakhstan’s initiatives and cooperation priorities within international economic organisations. He also updated the gathering on Kazakhstan’s transit potential and opportunities to diversify transport…

ASTANA ­– Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Swiss Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter discussed bilateral cooperation and took part June 19 in an international conference on water resources management in Central Asia in Astana. During the meeting, Abdrakhmanov noted the high level of bilateral political and economic partnership and said…

ASTANA – Regional business leaders discussed developing transport and logistic systems on Eurasian transcontinental routes during the June 15 New Silk Way international transport and logistics business forum in Astana. The gathering was part of the 10th Astana Economic Forum. Participants discussed global economic trends, European and Asian markets in terms of the development of…

ASTANA– Kazakhstan is slated to make a targeted contribution of $300,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Combating Terrorism. The funds will be used to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, particularly the third phase of the project concerned with Central Asia. Kazakhstan will become the first country in the region to donate to…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili discussed bilateral cooperation during the Georgian leader’s official visit to Kazakhstan June 13. Greeting Margvelashvili at the Akorda presidential residence, Nazarbayev noted that Margvelashvili’s visit marked the 25th anniversary of relations and opening of EXPO 2017 in Astana. “We are grateful for your visit and…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed bilateral economic cooperation and marked the 25th anniversary of relations during a June 8 meeting as part of the Chinese leader’s four-day official visit to Kazakhstan. The sides also signed agreements, including a joint statement, a tax exemption for certain types of income from…

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan jointly with the Ministry of Defence and Aerospace Industry held May 25 a presentation for representatives of the diplomatic corps on the export potential of the country’s defence and aerospace industry and opportunities for cooperation with foreign partners. Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Defence and Aerospace Industry…

ASTANA –Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov and United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan signed an agreement here May 23 establishing a one-month visa free regime for Kazakh citizens travelling to the Emirates. The foreign ministries agreed to establish a mechanism to exchange information on…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the May 21 Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh with more than with 50 leaders from the Muslim world participating. At the summit, King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about cooperation between the Muslim world and the U.S. to halt terrorism…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the One Belt, One Road International Cooperation Forum and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high leaders May 14-15 in Beijing. The form was meant to develop trends along the Great Silk Road and new mechanisms for economic cooperation, to stimulate the economic progress of the states…

Kazakhstan, Japan and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) issued a joint appeal to launch the first of a series of preparatory discussions ahead of the 2020 review of the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Vienna is hosting the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties…

ASTANA – The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Japan reaffirmed their cooperation across sectors at the May 1 Central Asia+Japan dialogue in Ashgabat. The group discussed cooperation in trade, investment, security, culture, humanitarian assistance and infrastructure. They signed a joint statement and adopted a roadmap for regional cooperation in transport and…

ASTANA – The UN Security Council under the American chairmanship held ministerial level thematic debates on the theme of non-proliferation/DPRK in New Your April 28. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov, who also held a number of bilateral talks with his foreign counterparts. The debate participants expressed a serious concern over…

ASTANA – Turkish air carrier Atlas Global (former Atlasjet) launched April 28 direct Astana to Istanbul flights. The flights will be carried out twice a week on Tuesday and Friday by Airbus 320 at 6:30 a.m. Flight duration is about five hours. The first two months the tickets prices will start at $280. Atlas Global…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev told the 25nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) that the assembly will be instrumental in achieving the country’s modernisation. Nazarbayev told the assembly during an April 25 gathering at the Palace of Peace and Harmony that the assembly will be involved in modernisation programmes,…

ASTANA – Almaty is hosting April 24-28 a “Improving the productivity and profitability of agribusiness through teaching innovative technologies of water and energy saving to farmers and agricultural specialists of Central Asian countries” seminar.    The seminar is a pilot project of Kazakhstan’s official development assistance (ODA) system and was organised by the Kazakh Ministry…

ASTANA – Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member state foreign ministers met April 21 in Astana to prepare for the June 8-9 meeting of the heads of member states. The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) agreed on a draft agenda for the Council of Heads of State, which would take place in Astana on the eve…

ASTANA – The study of the settlements of the Saka, also referred to as Scythians, ancient tribes that lived in what is now modern-day Kazakhstan, is one of the main tasks for Kazakh archaeologists seeking to fill in the blank spots of the region’s history. Excavations in Central Kazakhstan have determined that ancient tribes made…

ASTANA – President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed bilateral relations during Berdymukhamedov’s April 18-19 state visit to Kazakhstan. His visit corresponded with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During their meeting at the Akorda presidential residence on April 18, Nazarbayev congratulated Berdymukhamedov on his victory in…

ASTANA­­ – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev discussed opportunities for cooperation within Kazakhstan’s third stage modernisation with leading American innovation companies during an April 11-14 visit to the United States. During visits to  New York and San Francisco, Sagintayev promoted cooperation in IT technologies, engineering, energy, mining, chemical, food and processing, telecommunications, transport, construction and…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed bilateral trade, political, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as international and regional issues, during an April 3 meeting in Baku. Nazarbayev said the two countries should seek new, joint economic opportunities resulting from the global economic crisis, including in transit and…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov told a gathering of the country’s diplomats and high-level government officials March 27 that strengthening economic diplomacy in implementing the nation’s five institutional reforms connected to its third stage modernisation is the ministry’s primary mission. “Strengthening of economic diplomacy is the principal task of the whole…

ASTANA – Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed bilateral relations during Mirziyoyev’s March 22-23 first state visit to Kazakhstan. His visit, accorded the highest status, corresponded with the Nauryz spring holiday. During their meeting at the Akorda presidential residence on March 23, Nazarbayev noted a sharp increase in trade turnover between…

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued a statement March 16 welcoming the outcomes of another international meeting on Syria held March 14-15 as part of the Astana Process. “Kazakhstan welcomes the results of the third international meeting on Syria held on March 14-15, 2017 in Astana, where the guarantor states discussed…

ASTANA – Astana will host another round of talks on settling the conflict in Syria within the Astana Process March 14-15. High-ranking delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran have confirmed participation and invitations have been sent to representatives of the United States, United Nations and Jordan, according to a March 9 press release from the Kazakh…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov informed the members of the Mazhilis (lower house) of Parliament about the nation’s priorities as a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2017-2018, as well as answered their questions on a wide range of issues, during the March 13 so called “government hour”. Kazakhstan is…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan March 10. The law “On introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” which was approved by the Parliament and presented to the President was sent to the Constitutional Council on March 6. The…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov along with the international organisation Global Zero have been nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Director of the Basel Peace Offices (BPO) Alyn Ware from Switzerland submitted the nominations, according to a February 26 posting on his Facebook…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues Feb.27 in Almaty. During the meeting, Nazarbayev stressed the close and trusting relationship between the two countries. “This year marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between us. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established thanks to…

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in the 16th session of the joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation Feb. 23 in Tashkent. “Kazakhstan is the largest strategic trade partner of Uzbekistan in Central Asia,” Mirziyoyev said, noting the two countries are entering a…

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation presented the country’s first official development assistance (ODA) project to the Afghan government Feb.12-17 in Kabul. The project seeks to strengthen the economic independence of Afghan women by providing education from Kazakhstan’s top educational institutions in public administration and health care, maternal and child health and other topics. The initiative…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev led a Feb. 3 expanded government meeting discussing the key objectives of the third stage of Kazakhstan’s modernisation, which were laid out n his Jan. 31 annual address to the nation. Nazarbayev instructed the government to take into account the target indicators of the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy while developing a…

Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Ashikbayev participated in Jan. 23-24 United Nations discussions in New York on the synergy of peace, security and sustainable development. The Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in collaboration with the delegations of Belarus and Suriname, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened…

ASTANA – The Astana EXPO 2017 national company presented on Dec. 23 the One-Stop Service Centre (OSSC) and Accreditation Centre to representatives of countries planning to participate in the expo, expo2017astana.com reported. During the meeting, Director of Service Department Diyas Azbergenov informed about functional capacities of the OSSC. “The OSSC works around the clock on…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid his first official visit in 2017 to Abu-Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Jan.15-16, reported the press office of the Akorda.   He met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-CEO of Calatrava Grace Corporation Micael Calatrava and business circle representatives of the country.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attended its first meeting Jan. 3 as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and on Jan. 4 appointed former Kazakh Ambassador to the United States Kairat Umarov Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations. According to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was followed included five new…

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov reported on the main results of the ministry’s activities in 2016 and highlighted the coming tasks of Kazakh diplomacy for 2017 during his traditional annual briefing on Dec.27. Idrissov emphasised that the country’s international achievements and successes became possible through President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s peaceful and dynamic foreign…

ASTANA – New rules reducing the number of visa categories from 14 to three and reducing the paperwork necessary for a visitor to obtain a visa to Kazakhstan will come into effect Jan. 1. Under the new rules, visas will be divided into type A for diplomats, officials and investors, type B for short-term visitors…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, top government officials and took part in a Kazakh-Israeli business forum during a Dec.14 visit to Astana. According to Nazarbayev, the sides held an open and constructive dialogue. They paid special attention to trade and economic issues that are being negatively influenced…

ASTANA – Kazakh and international human rights officials discussed implementation of human rights protections guaranteed by Kazakhstan’s Constitution and existing laws, as well as Kazakhstan’s compliance with international standards for judicial and non-judicial human rights protections at a Dec. 8 roundtable in Astana. The event was devoted to Kazakhstan’s 25 years of independence and Human…

ASTANA – Almaty opened Dec. 2 the ticket office of the 28th World Winter Universiade 2017 at Mega Alma-Ata shopping mall,reported almaty2017.com. Universiade 2017 ambassadors, including famous Kazakh sportsmen, artists, well-known bloggers and TV presenters attended the opening. The ticket office will provide discounts for veterans, disabled people, children and students as well as group…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev told the Dec. 1 National Youth Forum that education and entrepreneurship are important in a modern world and noted the opportunities the Kazakh government provides for young people. “The main focus of my policy has always been about the present and future of the younger generation. Today, every young citizen…

ASTANA ­– President Nursultan Nazarbayev rejected during the Nov. 25 meeting of the National Commission for Modernisation a proposal voiced one day earlier in the Parliament to rename the Kazakh capital after him. “We have done a lot. I would not be able to do anything alone, without you next to me,” he said addressing…

ASTANA­ – Kazakhstan participated in the Nov. 22-24 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Eurasia Week in Paris. The event sought to strengthen relations between countries of the region and the organisation and examine ways to improve the region’s competitiveness. Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov headed the Kazakh delegation, which included representatives of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Parliament adopted Nov. 23 the Declaration on the 25 years since the Independence of Kazakhstan during a joint meeting of the two chambers of Parliament under the chairmanship of Mazhilis speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin. “All the achievements and victories of independent Kazakhstan have become possible thanks to the dedication and tireless work of…