Over the past week, the media in the region have been focusing on the Russian Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan and the agreements signed relating to Uzbekistan’s plans to construct a small NPP. Many outlets also noted Kyrgyzstan’s pledging of $130 million to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. They also discussed Afghanistan and Turkmenistan commencing several joint energy and transportation projects. Other sources have also mentioned the special forces exercises “Boundless-Brotherhood III” that took place in Kazakhstan.

16 September 2024

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Over the past week, the media in the region have been focusing on Kyrgyzstan’s removal of the Taliban from the country’s list of extremist organizations. They have also discussed several military and anti-terror drills conducted by the SCO, CIS, and the CSTO in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Many sources also highlighted Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inking a presidential decree on a referendum on constructing a nuclear power plant. Others have been concentrating on several new investments and bilateral agreements in the region, such as those between Kazakhstan and the Arab Coordination Group, as well as Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

09 September 2024

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Over the past week, the media in the region have been discussing Kazakhstan’s aim to construct a nuclear power plant and the government’s plan to hold a referendum on the matter this autumn. The media also paid attention to the various plans to expand the Trans-Caspian International Trade Route (TITR), as well as the meeting of the German-Kazakh Business Council. Several sources elaborated on the agreements concluded during the Kazakhstani President’s state visit to Tajikistan last week. Many outlets also mentioned the sanctions against the “Zolotaya Korona” payment system and other Russian banks. They also outlined Kaspi’s attempts to buy the Uzbekistani state’s share in the Humo payment system.

02 September 2024

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This week, the media reported on the joining of the Philippines in the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport (GFST), the establishment of a Kazakhstan-China trade center in Nanjing, frequent rejection of remittances from Russia by Central Asian banks, the 22nd meeting of the SCO member states' Prosecutor Generals, Chinese companies mining copper in Afghanistan's Mes Aynak which is home to a major archeological site, the possibility of an energy shortage in Kazakhstan, the development of artificial intelligence products in Tajikistan, and the allocation of funds by the ADB to Tajikistan to support the climate-friendly business environment and SME development.

29 July 2024

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This past week, Central Asian media paid attention to the state visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan and his wife to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan joining the first high-level forum of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) coordinated by the US and EU, the latest developments in the project on the protection of the North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, latest news from the energy industry in Central Asia, as well as updates on clean energy transition in the region, agreement on the simplification of transport and logistics between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the launch of 16 joint agreements between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on various fronts, the launch of Huawei's commercial high-tech solutions in Dushanbe, and Samsung's assistance in the digitization of Kazakhstan's armed forces.

22 July 2024

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This past week, regional media focused on several significant events including the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha, the regional economic outlook report released by the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), the free trade agreement between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion, an attempted coup in Kyrgyzstan, developments in the energy industry in the different countries of the region, efforts by Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to revitalize the TAPI Gas Pipeline project, and the widespread unseasonal floodings across Central Asia.

16 July 2024

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The 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held on July 3rd and 4th at the Palace of Independence in Kazakhstan's capital. This summit marked the first time the SCO convened in the "SCO+" format, enabling participating countries and international organizations to engage in more extensive multilateral exchanges and cooperation. This expanded the opportunities and mechanisms for collaboration between SCO member states and other countries and international institutions. The summit in Astana resulted in the adoption of 25 documents, including the "Astana Declaration," the initiative "On World Solidarity for Justice, Peace, Harmony, and Development," the "SCO Development Strategy 2035," the "2025-2027 Action Plan for Cooperation in Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism," the "2024-2029 Anti-Drug Strategy," and the "SCO Economic Development Strategy 2030." This summit also marked Iran's first formal participation as a full member state and the ascension of Belarus to member status.

09 July 2024

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a major political, economic, and security alliance established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Today, the SCO comprises nine member states, three observer states, and fourteen dialogue partners. The organization focuses on cooperation among member states in various areas, including regional security, economic development, and cultural exchange.

01 July 2024

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