This past week, Chinese media reported on Kazakhstan’s willingness to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU, the detainment of over 30 individuals by the GKNB of Kyrgyzstan accused of an "Attempted Coup", and the wildfire in Eastern Kazakhstan's Abai region, and paid special attention to the Astana International Forum.
Wildfires in Eastern Kazakhstan. Image source: AKI Press
On June 2, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated during the second EU-Central Asia Summit in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan that Kazakhstan has the potential to deepen cooperation with the European Union. (Tibet) He highlighted that the European Union is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, accounting for over 40% of their foreign trade. Last year, the volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and EU countries reached $40 billion. President Tokayev expressed confidence in increasing this figure to $50 billion by 2025, also emphasizing the need to fully leverage the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), and pointing out that Central Asian countries will be set to increase their capacity by embracing cutting-edge digitalization strategies and infrastructure upgrades.
The press office of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) of Kyrgyzstan announced on June 6 the detainment of over 30 individuals who were allegedly planning to incite mass riots and acts of disobedience with the intent to seize power. (Xinhua) At present, more than 30 suspects, including the leader of the group, were detained by Kyrgyzstan’s security agencies. “Based on the information received and the collected audio and video materials, a criminal case was opened, within the framework of which a set of special investigative actions authorized by the court was carried out,” the press service stated. According to the report, the arrival of significant funds from foreign sources was expected in the near future to finance organizational matters and remunerate key officials.
On June 8, a major forest fire broke out in the Abai region, Eastern Kazakhstan, with the affected area reaching 60,000 hectares and resulting in the deaths of three forest rangers. (People’s Daily) Three people have died with 11 reportedly missing in forest fires, and more than 800 people participated in firefighting, search and rescue work, while around 700 residents were evacuated and temporary shelters were set up. Despite the high temperatures, large burning areas and wind gusts, the situation is brought under control, according to the Fire Service Committee at the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Also on June 8, Kazakhstan’s hosting of the two-day Astana International Forum (AIF) made it to the Chinese media outlets. (Chinanews) Participants at the Forum engaged in discussions covering a range of important topics including the global economy, international security, global development, climate change, and food shortages. These subjects were chosen to address pressing challenges that have far-reaching implications on a global scale. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his welcome speech, emphasized the commitment of Kazakhstan to global cooperation. He stressed the significance of fostering dialogue, promoting trade, embracing multilateralism, and facilitating the exchange of ideas as crucial elements in tackling these challenges effectively.
