On April 11, Almaty hosted the eighth meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign ministers of Central Asian countries: Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubayev, and Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin. Turkmenistan was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov,
On April 4, the first-ever Central Asia-European Union Summit was held in Samarkand, chaired by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Together with President Mirziyoyev, Central Asian countries were represented by
Central Asia and the European Union are linked by deep historical roots, coinciding interests, and a common desire for close partnership, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in an exclusive interview to Euronews on the eve of the first Central Asia-European Union summit in Samarkand on April 3-4. According to Mirziyoyev, the Central Asia-European Union format of cooperation
The President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan from March 31 to April 1. Following her negotiations with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the two leaders adopted a joint statement reaffirming their strong commitment to further strengthening and diversifying partnership between Kazakhstan and Slovenia. The two presidents agreed to broaden cooperation in
On March 31, a trilateral meeting was held between the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the Tajik city of Khujand. The presidents signed the Treaty between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on the junction point of the state borders of the three
The European Union and the five Central Asian countries reaffirmed their strong political commitment to strengthening engagement and deepening cooperation during the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on March 27 in Ashgabat. The Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Deputy
On March 17, as part of the official visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to the Russian Federation, a virtual ceremony of the start of construction of two important social and humanitarian facilities in Tajikistan was held in the Kremlin. Rahmon and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the State Russian Drama Theater
The strong partnership between Uzbekistan and the EU has been further deepened during European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela’s visit on March 18, with a strong focus on advancing Global Gateway cooperation. The visit focused on expanding digital connectivity, promoting sustainability and job creation through critical raw materials and developing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor to
On March 17, as part of his official visit to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeshi Iwaya. The parties discussed key issues of enhancing political dialogue, as well as deepening trade, economic, investment, and cultural ties. The
During the March 13 visit of European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, the European Union and Kazakhstan have taken important steps to deepen their cooperation under the Global Gateway strategy by signing key agreements to support sustainable economic growth and regional connectivity, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan reported.
On March 13, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed the Agreement on the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Agreement was signed during a state visit of President Rahmon to Kyrgyzstan. Last month, chief negotiators from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reached the final agreement on the demarcation of disputed
On March 12, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a state visit to France and held talks with President Emmanuel Macron. Following the talks, Mirziyoyev and Macron adopted a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries. Uzbekistan and France also adopted a Cooperation Program in the investment and innovation
On March 12, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela concluded a strategic visit to Turkmenistan, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to expanding cooperation under the Global Gateway strategy. The visit focused on the EU’s role in strengthening Turkmenistan’s integration into regional and global economic networks, particularly in transport connectivity, renewable energy, and trade facilitation, the
Between 12 and 18 March, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will visit the five Central Asian countries to strengthen the EU-Central Asia partnership ahead of the EU-Central Asia Summit and scale up Global Gateway, the EU’s investment strategy to boost jobs and sustainable economic growth, the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan announced. Commissioner Síkela said: “Central
Since the presidency of Nursultan Nazarbayev, official propaganda has maintained that Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s leader in terms of economic development, social sphere, and attraction of foreign investment. But it looks like it is no longer the case, Amirzhan Kosanov, a member of the Public Chamber of the Mazhilis (the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament),
The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan. The document was initiated by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Central Asian states. 152 UN member states supported the resolution as co-sponsors, which underlines the high significance of
On March 4, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliyev visited Dushanbe and held talks with Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda. According to the Kyrgyz government’s press service, one of the main issues on the agenda was preparations for the first-ever trilateral summit of the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
On February 26, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif held negotiations in Tashkent. The leaders agreed to establish the Supreme Council of Strategic Partnership and hold its first meeting next year. The negotiations focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation. It was noted that in
On February 24, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliyev held talks in Astana. Kasymaliyev is on his first official visit abroad since the appointment as the head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers in December, which testifies to Kazakhstan’s importance for Kyrgyzstan. According to
On February 24, the UK announced new sanctions targeting those who continue to aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions target Russia’s military machine and entities in third countries who support it. In particular, the UK has imposed sanctions on the Kyrgyzstan-based OJSC Keremet Bank for its alleged role in supporting Russia’s war machine. On
