Central Asia News Bulletin

Kazakhstan sets out 2024 legislative agenda; Earthquakes strike Central Asia; Uzbekistani Minister arrested on bribery charges; Turkmenistan’s National Leader visits the UAE; the Taliban seek to attract foreign investment. /07.01.2024

_{UNHCR and the Islamic Development Bank signed three agreements aimed at bolstering access to education, healthcare services, and livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan. Source: Ariana News}

This week the regional media reported on President Tokayev’s legislative initiatives in 2024 and meetings with high parliamentary officials, magnitude 3.0 and greater earthquakes that impacted Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the arrest of an Uzbekistani official on charges that he helped Uzbek citizens illegally immigrate to the United States, signing of bilateral agreements between Turkmenistan and the UAE, following President Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Abu Dhabi, and the Taliban’s efforts to court foreign investment to boost the economic situation in Afghanistan.

: 07 January 2024

Kazakhstan plans for boosting Creative Economy; removes Taliban from terror list; Iran signs FTA with the EAEU; Uzbekistan takes measures to guarantee energy security; the Taliban improve cooperation with CA states. /31.12.2023

_{The two-day Digital Bridge 2023 forum in Astana. Source: digitalbusiness.kz}

This week, Central Asian media outlets covered a Kazakhstani government initiative to promote the development of creative economy in the country and the expansion of Kazakhstan’s regional soft power influence; the signing of a $70 billion free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU; Kazakhstan’s removal of the Taliban from a list of prohibited organizations; Uzbekistan’s efforts to promote energy security through the construction of power plant facilities; Tajikistan’s efforts to develop a green economy and to protect its cultural heritage, and the Taliban government’s initiative to promote further cooperation with Central Asia.

: 31 December 2023

Kazakhstani legislature ratifies UN Optional Protocol to Convention of the Rights of the Child; Uzbekistan and Iraq hold talks to develop bilateral relations; Turkmenistan officials meet with UNDP to establish joint development initiative. /11.12.2023

_{President Tokayev Signs Action Plan on Human Rights Ahead of World Human Rights Day. Source: Astana Times}

This past week, the media paid attention to an action plan signed by Kazakhstan’s President to support human rights in the country and further develop the rule of law and institutions, Kazakhstan’s senate ratifying the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child on World Human Rights Day, granting more protections to children under Kazakhstani law, Iraqi officials hosting bilateral talks with Uzbekistan in Baghdad to develop the two countries’ strategic relationship, Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme developing a series of cooperative initiatives to improve human development in the country, and the United States providing Afghan refugees located in Pakistan with $77 million in aid.

: 11 December 2023

Tokayev attends COP 28; Kazakhstani press meets with the Indonesian Ambassador; Uzbekistan changes electoral system; Kyrgyzstan - Tajikistan officials meet to resolve border dispute; UNAMA officials meet with the Taliban. /03.12.23

_{Tokayev addresses world leaders at the COP 28 Summit. Source: Astana Times}

This past week, the media paid attention to President Tokayev’s address at the COP 28 Summit in Dubai, where the he addressed his country’s future in a carbon-neutral, green global community, Kazakhstani press and the Indonesian ambassador meeting in Astana to discuss the future of their countries’ bilateral relationship, Uzbekistan announcing that their Senate will change electoral laws to lower the vote threshold for candidates to win elections, Kyrgyzstani and Tajikistani officials confirming having held meetings to rectify the two countries’ border dispute, Taliban leaders having met with UNAMA officials, and the head of the organization, Roza Otunbayeva, discussing the issues facing Afghanistan.

: 03 December 2023

Kazakhstan lays out regional strategy at UN economic summit, Tokayev attends CSTO security meeting; Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan join EU green energy initiative, Uzbekistan seeks to strengthen ties with Afghanistan. /26.11.23

_{Central Asian, Caucasian, and UN leaders meet in Baku. Source: Azar News}

This past week, the media paid attention to the UN-led Central Asian and Caucus economic strategy meeting in Baku, the CSTO security meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s joining of an EU-led green energy initiative, Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to address rising water scarcity, and Uzbekistan seeking improved relations with the Taliban-led Afghanistan.

: 26 November 2023

Kazakhstani citizens depart from Gaza; PM Smailov courts international investors; Kyrgyzstan’s President visits Japan; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reach border agreement; Pakistan civil society groups react to deportations. /19.11.23

_{Kazakhstani citizens arrive in Almaty after being evacuated from Gaza. Source: DK News}

This past week, the media paid attention to the repatriation of Kazakhstani citizens who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip, while about 130 Kazakhstanis departed from Gaza this week for Egypt and Almaty. Also in the news where Prime Minister Smailov’s effort to encourage foreign investment by $150 billion by 2029 at an investor summit in Astana, Kyrgyzstan’s President visiting Japan in an effort to strengthen economic, political, and investment ties, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s bilateral efforts to resolve border disputes between the two countries, and the statement from Pakistani authorities that all Afghanistani refugees within the country will be deported by the end of the month.

: 19 November 2023

Putin visits Astana; Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan to increase bilateral trade; Italian President visits Uzbekistan; Economic Cooperation Organization meets in Tashkent; UN Secretary General proposes Afghan reintegration into the international system. /12.11.23

_{Kazakh and Russian Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin signed a number of documents following the talks on November 9, 2023. Source: Kaz Inform}

This past week, the media paid attention to Russian President Putin’s arrival in Astana, where he touted ten years of positive bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, Kazakh Prime Minister Smailov’s announcement to raise Kazakh-Uzbek trade to $10bn and further cooperation between the two countries, the Italian President’s visit to Uzbekistan and subsequent economic, political and people-to-people cooperative deals, the Economic Cooperation Organization meeting in Tashkent and negotiations to improve regional cooperation and logistics, and the statement by UN Secretary-General Guterres to re-integrate Afghanistan into the global community.

: 12 November 2023

French & Hungarian leaders meet with Tokayev; Organization of Turkic States meeting in Astana; District elections in Kazakhstan; Central Asia’s Water Crisis addressed by regional leaders; Pakistan & Taliban to negotiate refugee crisis. /05.11.23

_{France’s President Macron addresses Kazakh leaders in Astana. Source: Astana Times}

This past week, the media paid attention to President Macron of France and Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary visiting Central Asian States, The Organization of the Turkic States meeting in Astana to discuss deepening economic and political cooperation, The district-level elections in Kazakhstan, discussions between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan on water-sharing agreements in recognition of the rapid desiccation of the Aral Sea and its main water source, the Syr Darya river, and the negotiations between Pakistan and the Taliban on the issue of deportation of Afghanistani refugees from Pakistan.

: 05 November 2023

CCASC

Media Monitoring

Kazakhstan sets out 2024 legislative agenda; Earthquakes strike Central Asia; Uzbekistani Minister arrested on bribery charges; Turkmenistan’s National Leader visits the UAE; the Taliban seek to attract foreign investment. /07.01.2024

Kazakhstan plans for boosting Creative Economy; removes Taliban from terror list; Iran signs FTA with the EAEU; Uzbekistan takes measures to guarantee energy security; the Taliban improve cooperation with CA states. /31.12.2023

Kazakhstani legislature ratifies UN Optional Protocol to Convention of the Rights of the Child; Uzbekistan and Iraq hold talks to develop bilateral relations; Turkmenistan officials meet with UNDP to establish joint development initiative. /11.12.2023

Tokayev attends COP 28; Kazakhstani press meets with the Indonesian Ambassador; Uzbekistan changes electoral system; Kyrgyzstan - Tajikistan officials meet to resolve border dispute; UNAMA officials meet with the Taliban. /03.12.23

Kazakhstan lays out regional strategy at UN economic summit, Tokayev attends CSTO security meeting; Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan join EU green energy initiative, Uzbekistan seeks to strengthen ties with Afghanistan. /26.11.23

Kazakhstani citizens depart from Gaza; PM Smailov courts international investors; Kyrgyzstan’s President visits Japan; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reach border agreement; Pakistan civil society groups react to deportations. /19.11.23

Putin visits Astana; Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan to increase bilateral trade; Italian President visits Uzbekistan; Economic Cooperation Organization meets in Tashkent; UN Secretary General proposes Afghan reintegration into the international system. /12.11.23

French & Hungarian leaders meet with Tokayev; Organization of Turkic States meeting in Astana; District elections in Kazakhstan; Central Asia’s Water Crisis addressed by regional leaders; Pakistan & Taliban to negotiate refugee crisis. /05.11.23