Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s parliamentary system development foundation suggested adoption at the legislative level of a provision on a sufficient quality of life for Kazakhstan residents, its components, and evaluation standards during a Dec. 9 meeting of the subgroup on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights under the Advisory Body – Dialogue Platform…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China have begun exchanging digital foreign permit forms (FPFs), which allow carriers to go overseas with cargo. The Kazakh Transport Ministry reported this on Dec. 2. According to the ministry’s statement, the electronic system was formally inaugurated after testing the first freight vehicle on Nov. 27. According to Altai Ali, chair…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 49th out of 186 nations with 47.36 points, ahead of Russia, Türkiye, China and Central Asian countries, in the World Prosperity Index, published by HelloSafe Canadian analytical and financial platform. The HelloSafe Prosperity Index is based on six key indicators: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, Gross National Income (GNI) per…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the One Water Summit, an exhibition in Almaty and more. Kazakhstan to host regional climate conference in 2026, Tokayev says Kazakhstan will host a regional climate conference in 2026, in partnership with the United Nations,…

ASTANA – China plans to launch the trial transportation of lithium-ion batteries from China along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or the Middle Corridor, this month. A relevant agreement on the joint development of the route was reached during a Dec. 5 meeting between Transport Ministers of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev and China Liu Wei…

ASTANA – The volume of Kazakhstan’s grain exports may reach 12 million tons this year. The key sales markets will include Central Asia, China, Afghanistan, Italy, and other countries. The question of delivering grain in amounts of up to 2 million tons to Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, North African countries, and the European Union (EU)…

ASTANA – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC partners, a group of oil exporters called OPEC+, agreed on Dec. 5 to extend the overall crude oil production level in accordance with the decisions taken at the 35th OPEC+ Ministerial Meeting, until Dec. 31, 2026. The decision was made during the 57th meeting…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu underscored the importance of preserving the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a unique platform for inclusive dialogue on security topics during the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council’s meeting in Ta’ Qali, Malta on Dec. 5, which gathered foreign ministers from the…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States via phone call on Dec. 5.   The Presidents confirmed their mutual commitment to the intensive development of strategic partnership in trade, investment and nuclear non-proliferation, reported the Akorda. Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s position on the most pressing…

ASTANA – In line with the country’s goal to expand the area of geological investigation from 1.5 to 2.2 million square meters (m2) by 2026, the Kazakh government is enhancing the investment climate, updating subsurface usage regulations, and using AI technology for data processing. To date, two million m2 of subsoil have been surveyed. The…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) signed loan facility agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) to implement a project on consolidating Kazakhstan’s power system. According to the DBK’s press service, funds of up to 32 billion tenge (US$61 million) will be allocated…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will assume the chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 2025, which will be held under the Promoting Regional Transport Connectivity and Sustainable Development motto, said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu during the 28th ECO Council of Ministers meeting on Dec. 3 in Mashhad, Iran. During the…

ASTANA – Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) signed a trilateral agreement to develop cooperation in preserving Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash. The agreement was reached at the Dec. 3 One Water Summit in Riyadh. According to the ministry’s press service,…

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the President of France, World Bank Group and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to express his gratitude for support in organizing the One Water Summit and discuss cooperation prospects on Dec. 3 in Riyadh. Meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga During the meeting with…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key measures to tackle water security challenges and announced plans to hold a regional climate conference in 2026 at the One Water Summit in Riyadh on Dec.3.  The President expressed his gratitude to France, Saudi Arabia and the World Bank Group for their assistance in organizing this event.…

ASTANA – Kazakh University Medical Center’s (UMC) cardiac surgeons are working on creating a unique device for preserving organs outside the body. This can significantly improve the results of transplants, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Dec. 2. As part of the research, specialists are creating technology to keep a beating heart, “breathing” lungs,…

ASTANA – Young chess players from Kazakhstan became world champions in the overall team standings at the 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship held on Nov. 14-27 in Montesilvano, Italy. More than 700 players from 77 countries participated in the tournament, reported Kazakhstan Chess Federation’s press service on Nov. 27. Alanna Berikkyzy won gold in the…

ASTANA – The 17th Eurasia International Film Festival ended on Nov. 30 in Almaty with an award ceremony honoring the best actors, directors and films. This year, the festival brought together filmmakers from more than 15 countries, presenting two competition programs: an international competition and a competition of Central Asian and Turkic countries. The jury…

ASTANA – Uzbekistan and China signed an agreement on Dec. 1 allowing citizens to travel to both countries without visas for 30 days. “As part of the implementation of the agreements reached between the Leaders of Uzbekistan and China, today together with my colleague we signed the agreement that allows our citizens to travel without…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting of the Supreme Board of Trustees of Nazarbayev University (NU), Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) and Nazarbayev Fund to discuss work results and outline development plans. The meeting outlined approaches to improve NU’s quality of education and efficiency to enter the top 300 of the Times…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Sichuan Communist Party Committee Secretary Wang Xiaohui reviewed the opportunities for Kazakhstan and China’s interregional cooperation during a Nov. 30 meeting in Chengdu. During the talks, the officials focused on trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian interactions, as well as high technology, finance, investment,…

ASTANA – The Fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Chengdu on Dec. 1 reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to deepening political engagement, expanding economic relations, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and counterparts from the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China attended the event. According…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed outcomes of the country’s chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) during a Nov. 28 CSTO Collective Security Council session. The meeting was attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon,…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 20th Forum of Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation, which was held on Nov. 26-27 in Ufa, via videoconference. Tokayev welcomed the attendees and stated that bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, and investment, as well as industrial collaboration, has…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit, discussed cooperation prospects in the trade and economic, transport and logistics, fuel and energy, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian areas during the extended-format talks on Nov. 27. During the meeting, Tokayev focused on trade and…