SCO Welcomes Belarus As Its 10th Member State
ASTANA – The 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) began with a signing ceremony to admit Belarus as a full member state of the organization. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on this occasion. “The SCO has become an important mechanism in the international…
SCO Summit Kicks Off in Astana
ASTANA — The 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), chaired by Kazakhstan, commences today at the Palace of Independence in the capital. Titled “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity,” the summit will see the adoption of the Astana Declaration, 20 resolutions,…
Chinese Global Leader in Clean Energy Signs Multimillion-Dollar Agreements for New Kazakh Projects
ASTANA — Kazakh business representatives and the Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), a global leader in clean and low-carbon energy, water resources, and environmental construction, signed several significant projects worth $165 million at a July 2 meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Entrepreneurs Committee. POWERCHINA has signed 23 projects in Kazakhstan, covering hydropower, thermal power, renewable…
UN Secretary-General Arrives in Kazakhstan to Attend SCO Summit, Hold Talks
ASTANA – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Almaty with an official visit on July 3. Guterres was greeted by Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin, Permanent Representative to UN Kairat Umarov and UN Resident Coordinator for Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey. Earlier, Guterres spoke about the agenda of his visit, the resolution adopted last September…
QazaqGaz, Chevron to Cooperate on Potential Geological Exploration at Kazakh Zhalibek Site
ASTANA — QazaqGaz national company and Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiary Chevron Munaigas Inc., signed a cooperation agreement on July 1 regarding potential geological exploration at the Zhalibek site in the Aktobe Region, near the Zhanazhol and Urikhtau fields. According to the QazaqGaz press service, negotiations and technical preparations for this project have been ongoing…
Kazakhstan Becomes Popular Destination for Chinese Travelers
ASTANA – This summer, Kazakhstan is expected to be a key lure for Chinese tourists, alongside traditional destinations like Japan and Thailand, reported Kazinform on June 24. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics website, Kazakhstan, one of Asia’s fastest-growing destinations, benefits from its inclusion in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing its appeal to the…
Kazakhstan Clinches Gold at Cannes Lions for First Time
ASTANA – For the first time in the history of Kazakhstan’s advertising and creative industries, the GForce advertising agency has won a gold award in the Social and Influencer Lions category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2024, reported the festival’s press service. The event takes place from June 17 to 21 in…
China Plans to Build Large Multifunctional Complex in Astana
ASTANA – China’s Jumway Group, in collaboration with other major corporations, plans to construct a one-million-square-meter multifunctional complex in Astana, Chairman Hu Jian Xiong announced during a June 19 meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. As stated by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, Nurtleu highlighted the project’s potential to…
Kazakhstan Triumphs at First International Horseback Archery Masters Tournament in China
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan national team secured a full set of medals, including one gold, one silver, and one bronze at the First International Horseback Archery Masters Tournament, held from June 8 to 13 in Xilinhot, China. According to the Kazakhstan’s Federation of Zhamby Atu (horseback archery), the national team was represented by Abzal Tulybekov,…
Kazakhstan Wins Asian Road Cycling Championships with 15 Medals
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan national road cycling team won the 43d Asian Road Cycling Championships in Almaty with 15 medals, including six gold, three silver, and six bronze, the National Olympic Committee reported on June 13. The continental championship, held from June 6 to 12, ended with an elite men’s group race at a distance…
Kazakh Athletes Achieve Complete Victory at Asian Championship on Tenge Ilu
ASTANA – Kazakh athletes have achieved a complete victory at the Asian championship on tenge ilu, a traditional Kazakh equestrian sport involving picking up coins while riding a horse, the Almaty Region’s administration reported on June 11. The main continental competition took place at the Kobylandy hippodrome in the Talgar district. It was organized in…
National Kurultai Welcomes Prominent Kazakh Journalists, Broadens Its Scope
ASTANA – The National Kurultai (Congress) announced a rotation in its composition on June 12 on its Telegram channel, welcoming new public representatives. Karlygash Dzhamankulova, President of the Adil Soz International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech, Daniyar Kadirov, President of the Otandastar Foundation, and Lev Tarakov, Editor-in-Chief of the socio-political newspaper “Vremya,”…
Kazakhstan to Compensate for Overproduction of Oil
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will compensate for exceeding its oil production obligations by 45,000 barrels per day in May, the Energy Ministry reported on June 12. The country will adhere fully to its production quotas in June, including implementing additional voluntary cuts. The surplus production from the beginning of 2024 will be offset during the compensation…
Kazakhstan Improves Position in Speedtest Global Index Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan moved up 23 places on the Speedtest Global Index, from 95th in December 2022 to 72nd in December 2023, putting it ahead of neighboring Central Asian countries, reported the Ookla Research on Feb. 19. Kazakhstan’s mobile download speeds have improved by 61% since late 2022, reaching 35.07 megabits per second (Mbps) in…
Kazakhstan’s Citix to Upgrade Fuel Stations in Middle East and Africa
ASTANA – Citix, a leader in smart city technologies in Kazakhstan, has signed a tripartite agreement with MEMA, a division of Al Hajiry Holding, and Oman Oil Marketing Company to upgrade a network of fuel stations in Oman, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia, Citix reported on June 7. Under this project, Citix will deploy up to…
South Korea’s President to Visit Kazakhstan Next Week
ASTANA — At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan from June 11-13, 2024, Akorda press service reported. During the visit, Kazakhstan and South Korean presidents will engage in high-level negotiations to deepen cooperation across various sectors. Additionally, both…
Kazakhstan, PACE Reaffirm Commitment to Shared Values of Human Rights, Democracy
ASTANA — The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos, and Chairman of the Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, Maulen Ashimbayev, reaffirmed their commitment to the shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, reported the PACE press service on April 27. The…
Kazakhstan’s Population Grows by Nearly 85,000 People in Five Months
ASTANA – Since the beginning of the year, the number of Kazakh citizens has increased by 84,636 people, according to the statement of the Bureau of National Statistics, published on June 3. As of May 1, the number of people in Kazakhstan reached 20,118,478. Of these, 12,533,471 people reside in urban areas, while 7,585,007 live…
Over Ten Low-Cost Airlines Operate Regular Flights in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – In Kazakhstan, over ten low-cost airlines operate regular flights, including Malaysia’s Air Asia X, India’s IndiGO, Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways, the United Arab Emirates’ Wizz Air Abu-Dhabi, Air Arabia, and FlyDubai, Türkiye’s Pegasus Airways, Egypt’s Air Cairo and Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s Flynas, and Vietnam’s Vietjet Air, among others, Kazinform reported on June 3.…
Tokayev Highlights Middle Powers’ Role in Tackling Global Challenges in Euronews Article
ASTANA – Countries like Kazakhstan must step forward together with renewed vigor and assert their role not just as participants but as responsible managers in the global arena, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrote in the Euronews article, published on May 28. “In today’s world, marked by extraordinary geopolitical turbulence and persistent conflict, the need for multilateral…
Kazakhstan Extends Contract on Oil Supply to Germany by Year-End
ASTANA — KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, has extended its current agreement on oil supply from Karachaganak Petroleum Operating to an oil refinery in Schwedt, Germany, until the end of 2024, the KMG press service reported on May 21. The agreement envisages a monthly oil transportation volume of 100,000 tons. In January-April,…
SCAT Airlines Launches Astana-Prague Direct Flights
ASTANA – An opening ceremony for a new direct flight route from Astana to Prague, operated by SCAT Airlines, took place at Václav Havel Airport Prague, the Kazakh Embassy in the Czech Republic reported on May 23. The regular flights will run twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 737. Kazakh Ambassador…
Kazakhstan Suspends Digital Bridge 2024 Forum
ASTANA – Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive to suspend major events due to the severe floods in Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry announced the cancellation of the international IT forum Digital Bridge 2024, which was scheduled for Sept. 5-7 in Astana, reported the ministry’s press service. This year’s spring floods…
Kazakh President Ratifies Treaty on Allied Relations with Uzbekistan
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law on the ratification of the treaty on allied relations with Uzbekistan on May 20, reported the Akorda press service. The treaty, signed by the Presidents on Dec. 22, 2022, in Tashkent, was ratified by the Senate, the Upper House of the Kazakh Parliament, on April 25.…
Kazakh Climbers Triumphantly Return Home After Conquering Everest
ASTANA—Kazakhstan proudly welcomed home its triumphant Everest conquerors, Maksut Zhumayev, Anar Burasheva, and Almir Kymbatbayuly, at Almaty airport on May 20, the Kazinform agency reported. The expedition, led by Maksut Zhumayev, planted the national flag of Kazakhstan atop the world’s highest peak (8,848 meters). Burasheva made history as the first Kazakh woman to conquer Everest,…
