About: Kazakhstan
Caspian Five settle row over sea’s legal status, demarcation pending
Leaders of the five Caspian littoral states met on Sunday (12 August) for the Fifth Caspian Summit in Kazakhstan's port city Aktau to sign a landmark declaration determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea and aiming to end the legal limbo over its resource-rich waters.
Kazakhstan is the buckle of the Belt and Road initiative
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government which focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries. BRI largely replicates the Silk Road, a common historical heritage of China, Kazakhstan and all countries along its path.
Silk Road financial hub inaugurated in Kazakhstan
The “Astana International Financial Centre” or AIFC, was inaugurated today (5 July) at a lavish ceremony in the Kazakh capital.
China’s Belt and Road initiative, explained by Kazakhstan
Roman Vassilenko, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, met on Wednesday (4 July) with a group of international journalists from around the world to field questions about his country's development and the China-promoted Belt and Road initiative.
Mayor of Astana announces big ambitions
The population of Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, is set to double, yet Mayor Asset Issekeshev insists that quality of life and ability to attract visitors will improve too.
‘Super Grids Silk Road’ takes shape in Kazakhstan
A series of conferences dedicated to the China-promoted One Belt One Road initiative are taking place in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. Plans to launch a gigantic renewable energy project with the potential to supply the EU were also mooted.
EU-Kazakhstan parliamentary relations
The contractual basis for relations between the EU and Kazakhstan is the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), the first of its kind and acclaimed both by Brussels and Astana. The European Parliament’s relations with Kazakhstan, however, fall in the remit of...
EBRD ‘excited’ about Kazakhstan’s modernisation
Europe's reconstruction and development bank is excited about investing in Kazakhstan under the announced third stage of the country’s modernisation, always looking to combine investment with policy reform and technical advice, the head of the bank’s Brussels office said on Tuesday (19 June).
Modernisation of Kazakhstan: What role for the European Union?
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s 2017 address to the nation focused on what he termed a new, third stage of the country’s modernisation. The EU is not only monitoring progress closely, but has an interest to see Kazakhstan as a prosperous, politically-balanced, democratic country in the region.
In striking contrast with G7, Shanghai summit focuses on ‘unity’
Chinese President Xi Jingping has praised the "unity" of the Shanghai Cooperation Agreement (SCO) at the opening ceremony of the organization's summit in the coastal Chinese city of Quingdao.
Kazakhstan will benefit enormously from Belt and Road initiative
Kazakhstan, the most impressive reformer in the Central Asian region, is set to benefit enormously from China’s Belt and Road initiative as an equal partner, Kate Mallinson of Chatham House said at an international conference marking the 20th anniversary of Astana, on 5 June.
Major plans for Hong Kong-style hub in Central Asia revealed
Wheels are in motion to set up a Hong Kong-type financial hub in Kazakhstan, following the unveiling of plans by the governor of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) at an international conference marking the 20th anniversary of Astana, on 5 June.
Astana praised as the ‘capital of Central Asia’
An international conference was held in Astana on Tuesday (5 June) to mark the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's new capital. Dubbed Tselinograd during Soviet times, it was renamed Astana (meaning capital city in Kazakh) in 1998 and is now rebranding itself as a go-to venue for international mediation talks.
Astana: 20 years of thriving evolution
Astana is celebrating its 20th anniversary as capital of Kazakhstan. A remarkable city with futuristic buildings, Astana has positioned itself as a centre that hosts many important events and is developing as a financial hub in Eurasia.
Minister: Developing digital economy is matter of national security for Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is developing its digital technologies in many fields, such as the economy, agriculture or administration, and the Central Asian country also wants to become a pioneer in digital innovation, with the creation of technology hubs and parks.
MEP tells NGOs in Astana to be careful who they receive money from
Back from the Kazakhstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee held in Astana on 14 May, Latvian MEP Iveta Grigule-Pēterse debriefed of the event, with some telling messages about the work of certain NGOs.
Activist: Talking about nuclear weapons is not enough, we must shout
“Wherever I have been, I always say with pride that I live in a country that was one of the first to give up nuclear weapons”, Kazakhstan's famous painter and anti-nuclear activist Karipbek Kuyukov told EURACTIV in an interview.
Mogherini discusses future of Afghanistan at Central Asia forum
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini arrived in the Uzbek capital Tashkent yesterday (26 March) and met with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries, ahead of a conference on Afghanistan under the heading "Peace process, security cooperation and regional connectivity" which takes place today.
EU study weighs linking power grid to China’s
The European Union’s scientific research centre has explored the idea of linking the power grids of Europe and China, in order to tap into the immense clean energy potential of the Middle Kingdom and the countries of Central Asia.
Expert: One Belt One Road can have ‘huge importance’ for Central Asia
Kazakhstani political analyst Zhumabek Sarabekov discusses the Skripal poisoning case, the war in Syria, and the geopolitics of Central Asia, including the role of the EU.
Political analyst: In Central Asia, the personality factor is very important
A change at the helm of Uzbekistan 18 months ago became a game-changer and greatly improved relations in Central Asia, where the personality factor remains very important. In an interview, researcher Anastassiya Reshetnyak assesses the geopolitical situation, relations in the region and with the EU.
Minister: Central Asia can be a model of peace, security and cooperation
In a wide-ranging interview, Galymzhan Koisybayev, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, told EURACTIV about the results of a recent summit of the Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan) and the past and the future of regional cooperation.
Connecting Central Asia
The five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – only recently represented one of the most disconnected regions of the world, but have now launched a new regional cooperation drive. As a non-permanent of the UN...