The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry’s official told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service on January 26 that the former deputy chief of the Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who in 2020-2021 was at the center of a high-profile corruption scandal, was added to the wanted list of the State Committee for National Security. The ex-official is suspected of abducting and
The Government of Kazakhstan is introducing new approaches to agro-industrial sector development. The document on the issue was approved at the meeting on January 25, chaired by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov. It was said at the meeting that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set specific objectives to bring the agricultural sector to a new
During his state visit to China, on January 25 in Shenzhen, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the headquarters of Chinese company BYD, a global leader in the manufacturing of new energy vehicles and next-generation batteries. Together with the president of the company, Wang Chuanfu, Mirziyoyev took part in the launch ceremony of a project for
During his state visit to China, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, together with the Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Guangdong Province, Huang Kunming, participated in the Uzbek-Chinese Investment Forum in the city of Shenzhen on January 25. Opening the forum, which brought together heads of government agencies and regions of the two countries and
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Italy underscores the robust economic and cultural ties between the two nations. The Kazakh President’s emphasis on the close economic cooperation and dynamic growth potential reflects a positive trajectory in bilateral relations. Italy’s substantial investments in Kazakhstan, totaling $7.3 billion, showcase a strong commitment to mutual prosperity. The
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on January 23 in Bangkok hosted a seminar on investment and trade opportunities in Kazakhstan. The event was held with the participation of around 60 Thai businessmen to strengthen economic contacts between Kazakhstan and Thailand, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. In a welcoming speech, Deputy Permanent Secretary of
China and Uzbekistan have upgraded their ties to an “all-weather” comprehensive strategic partnership. This was announced during negotiations in Beijing on January 24 between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbekistani counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. President Mirziyoyev arrived in Beijing on January 23 for a three-day state visit to China. During their negotiations the two leaders
On January 24, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and Xi’an Lvhuan Forest Technology Service Co. Ltd signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation, with the support of National Company KAZAKH INVEST. Areas of cooperation include implementing projects for developing carbon sink assets in forests, meadows, wetlands, clean energy, soils, rivers, and lakes
On January 23, the United States through its Agency for International Development (USAID) delivered 131 tons of food aid worth approximately $425,000 to Uzbekistan. This aid will provide 6.5 million meals to the country’s most vulnerable citizens through distribution in over 120 health and social protection facilities providing support to patients in tuberculosis and mental
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Indonesia Serzhan Abdykarimov on January 23 in Jakarta held a meeting with Vice Chairman of International Relations of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bernardino Vega. The parties discussed measures to strengthen business contacts between Kazakh and Indonesian entrepreneurs, increase mutual trade, and realize transit-transport potential. Special emphasis was placed
During his official visit to Japan on January 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Ken Saito. The ministers discussed strengthening trade and economic ties between Turkmenistan and Japan, noting the successful joint implementation of various projects, including the construction in
Kazakhstan Agency of International Development KazAID held a briefing with the participation of representatives of embassies of Central Asian countries on January 22 in Astana. During the briefing Kazakh diplomats presented information on KazAID projects in 2024 to the Embassies of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Particular attention was focused on the Dostyk
Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on January 22 that Kremlin-friendly Russian journalist Tina Kandelaki has been banned from entering the country over a post she made online, alleging that the Russian language was being discriminated against in the Central Asian country. Kandelaki had criticized Kazakhstan’s plan to replace the Russian names of railway
A major earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks struck early on January 23 along the China-Kyrgyzstan border, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Kyrgyz Emergencies Minister Boobek Ajikeev said in a video message that the earthquake was felt shortly after midnight in Kyrgyzstan and was especially strong in several districts of the northern Issyk-Kul
Uzbekistan is a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of China. The development of multifaceted relations with China has been, and remains, one of the main priorities of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev wrote in his article, entitled “Uzbekistan and China: millennia-long friendship and cooperation,” published by People’s Daily Online (China)
A round table was held in Tashkent on January 19 to discuss the findings of four expeditions conducted by the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (SIC ICWC) on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. These expeditions, supported by the UN Development Programme from 2019 to 2023, aimed
A meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO was held on January 20. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, who chaired the meeting, summed up the activities of the Interdepartmental Commission for UNESCO for 2023 and outlined the priority areas for its further work, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported. It
Both of the Kazakh parliament’s chambers, the Mazhilis and the Senate, approved on January 19 a presidential proposal to send 430 Kazakh peacekeepers to the Middle East and Africa, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaqsylyqov said the troops will join the UN Disengagement Observer Force on the Golan Heights, the UN Truce Supervision
A Moscow court on January 19 sent a leader of the Uzbek diaspora in Russia, Usman Baratov, to pretrial detention for at least two months on a charge of inciting hatred with his online posts, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reported. Baratov pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stemmed from a post last month related to
On January 18, in Rome, Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas and Italy’s Eni S.p.A. signed the Joint Confirmation Agreement on initiation of the Zhanaozen hybrid power plant construction project. The document was signed by Magzum Mirzagaliyev, Chair of the Management Board, KMG and Eni Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi. The signing took place
