About: Kazakhstan
EU supports Kazakh programme to educate Afghan women
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Wednesday (5 September) announced a new €2 million programme that will train and educate Afghan women in 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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Astana hosts little-publicised Central Asia summit
Only a couple of years ago, a summit of the five Central Asia countries would have been absolutely unthinkable. But the leaders came together on Thursday (15 March) and decided to hold such meetings annually, always at the same time of the year, which is a major holiday in the region.
EU officials: Central Asia is trusted to define its regional interest
Speaking at a public event organised by EURACTIV in Brussels, EU officials shed light on the Union’s relation with Kazakhstan, saying it was increasingly becoming a model for the wider region of Central Asia.
Guterres highlights cooperation potential of Central Asia with Afghanistan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted on Friday (21 January) the potential of the five countries of Central Asia for addressing the threats of violent extremism and transnational organised crime in Afghanistan. For its part, Kazakhstan has suggested building an economic and security partnership with Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan likely to host future Ukraine talks
One of the major highlights of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarayev's visit to the US was an exchange of remarks with Donald Trump that suggested the Minsk talks on Ukraine may be moved to the Kazakh capital, Astana.
President of Kazakhstan meets Trump ahead of key UN appearance
The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazabayev is in the US where he met on Tuesday (16 January) with US President Donald Trump. But the main purpose of his visit is a speech at the United Nations where Kazakhstan holds the Presidency of the Security Council for January.
MEPs overwhelmingly ratify EU-Kazakhstan landmark partnership agreement
MEPs approved a landmark partnership deal with Kazakhstan on Tuesday (12 December), the EU's first Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with a Central Asian country.
Erdogan and Macron take lead in urging US to turn back on Jerusalem decision
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and France's Emmanuel Macron will work together to try to persuade the United States to reconsider its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a Turkish presidential source said on Saturday (9 December).
EU hesitates to recognise Kazakhstan as European
Kazakhstan is searching for a post-Soviet identity somewhere between its traditional Kazakh and Turkish cultures, Europe and multiculturalism, diplomats have told EURACTIV. But Europe has been slow to forge closer ties with the young country, despite its strategic location and potential.
Kazakhstan, a fledgling democracy bent on ‘stability’
The ruling elite in Astana acknowledges that continuous efforts are needed to tackle corruption – recognised as “systemic” – and bolster press freedom in Kazakhstan. "But it’s a very subtle balance between democracy and stability”, local politicians argue.
Kazakhstan hosts Jordan king in flurry of diplomatic activity
A flurry of diplomatic activity continued in Astana on Wednesday (1 November), marked by the visit of the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, who was awarded a prize for fighting against nuclear proliferation.