This past week, the media paid attention to Kazakhstan’s proposal to create a digital platform to enhance connectivity, innovation, and commerce between the states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan announcing that they will work together to manage and equitably share transboundary water resources on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers, the Central Asian States providing immediate aid to the citizens left without power in Kyrgyzstan’s capital following an explosion at a power plant in Bishkek, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announcing a new package of investments for Turkmenistan, and China accepting credentials of the Taliban's ambassador in Beijing.

In forums taking place concurrently in both Almaty and Astana, Kazakhstani officials met with counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus and Russia to discuss the creation of a shared digital platform to increase investment and innovation between the member states of the economic bloc. In the Astana forum, Prime Minister Smailov stated that this new platform would ease cooperation between business interests and the citizens of the EAEU, allowing for greater cooperation and integration between member states (Astana Times). At the Almaty forum, it was announced to an audience of press, foreign countries and dignitaries from EAEU member states, that Kazakhstan and its bloc counterparts would achieve this new digital platform through shared cooperation on Artificial Intelligence development and data processing and analysis capabilities (Astana Times). Likewise, at the Almaty forum, Kazakhstan showcased digital projects in the field of government, agricultural technology and IT initiatives to the event’s attendees to better demonstrate the country’s digitization achievements (Kazakhstan Today). In addition to these digital connections, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister showcased the country’s efforts at developing physical infrastructure, like roadways and rail to discuss the strides that Kazakhstan has made towards promoting EAEU integration (Tengri News).

On the sidelines of the EAEU meeting, the Kazakhstani Prime Minister met with his Uzbekistani counterpart, Abdulla Aripov, to announce that the two countries would be working together to manage shared transboundary water resources along the rivers shared by both nations. The effort would seek to mitigate against further drying and degradation of water resources due to human use and climate change (Kun.uz). At the meeting, both sides agreed to implement a roadmap to ensure that both sides will collaborate to ensure that the water resource needs of either side are met and respected (QazMonitor). Additionally, further cooperative efforts, increasing bilateral trade turnover, and industrial and agricultural joint projects were also discussed at the meeting (QazMonitor).

There was a major malfunction this week at Bishkek’s only Heating and Power Plant (HPP), resulting in thousands of citizens losing heating and power in the country’s capital. The loss of power is believed to have been caused by an explosion of a major boiler at the HPP, and an investigation has been launched to ascertain the causes of this disaster (24.kg). Kyrgyzstan’s Central Asian neighbors have responded to this situation by providing aid and fuel to the residents of the city, in most cases free of charge. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan announced that they will send canisters of liquified natural gas to provide heating for the city’s residents (Kun.uz). Kazakhstan has increased the supply of electricity to Bishkek from the Jambyl plant in the south of the country (AKIpress). Two residents from Bishkek were further airlifted to Turkey following the incident to receive specialized medical treatment (AKIpress).

Taking part in the Global Gateway Investor Forum in Brussels, representatives from Turkmenistan's government announced that they would open the country to investments from the EIB, which has previously not operated within the country. Business and government interests from Turkmenistan demonstrated critical areas, such as shipbuilding on the Caspian Sea and logistical centers in the country as key areas ready for European investment (Turkmen Portal). Following the meeting, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, called on his foreign ministry to pursue investments from the EIB and develop closer relations with the European Union (Turkmenistan Today). At the time of the meeting, Turkmenistan has already developed extensive cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which has implemented eighty-seven projects over the course of its thirty-year operation in the country. Twenty-two projects are currently being pursued by the EBRD in Turkmenistan (Turkmen Portal).

Elsewhere, China’s President Xi Jinping accepted the credentials of the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan’s Ambassador Wawlawi Asadullah Bilal Karimi, the first Taliban envoy to officially represent Afghanistan in China’s Great Hall of the People. President Xi announced that through this recognition, China seeks to “develop deep friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation” with Afghanistan (Asia-Plus Tajikistan). Likewise, Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, met with his Pakistani counterparts to discuss joint efforts to stabilize Afghanistan through enhanced regional cooperation, indicating that Afghanistan’s neighbors will take a more active role in establishing formal relations with Taliban-controlled Kabul (Tolo News).