Articles by Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – A delegation of the members of the European Parliament led by David McAllister, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), visited Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on Aug. 21-25 in a broader effort to intensify the European Union’s (EU) engagement with Central Asia. In an interview with The Astana Times, McAllister discussed…

ASTANA – A briefing took place on Sept. 12 in Astana to evaluate Kazakhstan’s progress in fulfilling its commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda led by the United Nations (UN). This event served as preparation for the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit in New York next week. Organized by the UN Office in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s banking sector has displayed increased resilience in recent years despite the criticism from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regarding the business models of banks in his recent address to the nation, according to the latest Fitch Ratings report on Sept. 8. Fitch notes that the credit profiles of most Kazakh banks have substantially improved…

ASTANA – Astana hosted an international conference on Sept. 7, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), one of the world’s largest development and infrastructure projects. The event also celebrated 30 years of partnership between Central Asia and China.  The conference was organized by Kazakhstan’s Center for Chinese Studies and took…

ASTANA – Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, Kazakhstan has undergone a significant government reshuffle, including the establishment of new ministries. These changes aim to address urgent challenges and propel the nation’s developmental trajectory. The state-of-the-nation address is an important event that sets the political agenda for Kazakhstan, including the country’s development.…

ASTANA – Last week’s state-of-the-nation address delivered by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has raised many issues critical for Kazakhstan and its future. The nuclear topic was one of them, reflecting Kazakhstan’s significant history related to nuclear issues. In the past, Kazakhstan was home to one of the world’s largest nuclear test sites, the Semipalatinsk test site,…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, mainly focusing on the country’s economic development and ways to navigate the complexities of the geopolitical environment while addressing pressing national concerns. More than 100 ideas and proposals have been voiced in the address, covering a wide range of issues, wrote State…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will hold a national referendum to determine whether to construct a nuclear power plant, a subject that has sparked intense public debate. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made the announcement during his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1. Tokayev emphasized that any decision regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant is an “extremely significant…

ASTANA – Economic cooperation is at the core of the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Vietnam, said Sergey Savelyev, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commenting on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Vietnam.  “The main focus of the visit was the economy. As of today, the bilateral trade turnover is demonstrating steady…

ASTANA – The official three-day visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Vietnam, featuring intensive discussions and business meetings, has marked a historic moment in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. Among the highlights were twelve agreements, an ambitious goal to boost bilateral trade to $1 billion, and initial steps toward a visa-free regime. The…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is expected to address the BRICS+ Dialogue via video conference on Aug. 24 as part of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, is likely to focus on unlocking the potential of transport routes in a broader effort to enhance economic interaction, according to Bauyrzhan Auken, the senior…

ASTANA – Over the past 30 years of its independence, Kazakhstan has been at the forefront of regional diplomacy, fostering a constructive multivector foreign policy. This year, Kazakhstan has the opportunity to elevate the power of cooperative diplomacy within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to new heights following its assumption of the presidency during the…

ASTANA – Ulken village in the Almaty Region is expected to host public hearings on Aug. 22 to decide on the construction of a nuclear power plant, a topic of heated public debate in Kazakhstan.  Ulken is located in the Almaty Region on the western shore of Lake Balkhash, some 370 kilometers from Almaty. Kazakhstan…

SAMARKAND – ASTANA – Samarkand is rightfully Uzbekistan’s most bejeweled and famous city, as its iconic medieval mausoleums, blue mosaics and incredibly delicious cuisine are unlike anything seen before.  Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s second-largest city and home to 552,000 people, has been at the crossroads of many cultures for over two millennia. Traders, scholars and explorers converged…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is projected to grow by 3.9% in 2023, according to the latest Asian Development Outlook report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an upward revision since its April forecast and up from 3.3% in 2022. The growth is driven by recovering industry, services, and domestic demand. Kazakhstan is the largest economy…

ASTANA – Driven by a shared vision of preserving the rich tapestry of family stories woven across Kazakhstan, Terek Story, run by Yingkar Bahetnur and Gulnaz Tulenova, embarked on an ambitious endeavor to create a digital library of family histories. The project, nicknamed terekstory on Instagram, invites everyone to send their family stories and share them…

ASTANA – Rapid economic growth might sound like a success story, but more often than not, it comes with rising inequalities and regional disparities. It is a challenge for both developed and developing countries to distribute this growth equally, said Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, the professor of economic geography at the London School of Economics (LSE), in…

ASTANA – Helga Schmid, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), highlighted Kazakhstan’s vital role in promoting regional security and fostering economic prosperity in her recent interview with Kazinform international news agency. Schmid, who visited Astana on June 8-9 to address the Astana International Forum, commended Kazakhstan for its active…

ASTANA – Astana witnessed the fourth edition of Ironman Kazakhstan on July 2. Welcoming over 1,000 participants from 60 countries with Kazakh hospitality, sunshine and perfect weather, the event showcased the power of human determination in the face of challenging triathlon races.  In a remarkable display of strength and determination, over 3,000 people gathered early…

ASTANA – Astana hosted a bicycle parade, gathering over 400 participants who embarked on a cycling rally covering 25 distances in the run-up to the Kazakh capital’s 25th anniversary on July 6. The rally commenced from the cycle path in Koschi (a village near Astana) and culminated in the Green Belt Park en route to…

ASTANA – As the impacts of climate change continue to escalate, the frequency and intensity of natural hazards are expected to rise, posing greater threats to lives and livelihoods in Central Asia and South Asia. In response to this growing risk, governments are increasingly implementing financial protection measures to aid disaster response, including floods and…

ASTANA – Nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., the Abai Center stands as a vibrant hub for promoting and preserving Kazakh culture and seeks to transform Kazakhstan’s representation, often made of false narratives, said Aitolkyn Kourmanova, a producer at the Abai Center, in an interview with The Astana Times.  Launched in early 2020 in…

ASTANA – As the world marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to international obligations aimed at eliminating torture. The implementation of the provisions of the Convention Against Torture, which the country ratified in 1998, remains a fundamentally important guideline for the development of Kazakhstan,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the extraordinary meeting of the Security Council on June 25 in Astana over the situation in Russia, which approved the Operational Plan of Action developed by the Kazakh government, reported the Akorda press service.  The meeting, which gathered the Prime Minister, Prosecutor General, the National Security Committee Chairman, as…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan commenced its role as chair of the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia on June 19, an informal platform that brings together female parliamentarians from the region to discuss ongoing developmental issues and strengthen cooperation. Supported by the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the UN Development…