Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

NEW DELHI – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13, with Kazakhstan seeking to advance cooperation in energy, critical minerals, transport connectivity and global water security. India is hosting the summit under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. BRICS is…

ASTANA – The sixth World Nomad Games (WNG) came to a close in the Kyrgyz Republic on Sept. 6, leaving a lasting impression on athletes, visitors, volunteers and everyone who helped bring the event to life. For six days, the games were filled with color, energy and the competitive spirit of athletes determined to win,…

ASTANA – Long constrained by its landlocked geography, Kazakhstan is seeking to turn its position between Europe and Asia into a source of economic and geopolitical leverage. As trade disruptions and competition drive demand for diversified supply chains, Astana is investing in new transport corridors to establish itself as an indispensable transit hub and translate…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan leads the overall medal standings at the sixth World Nomad Games with 55 medals, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports. As of Sept. 4, Kazakh athletes had won 25 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals. The Kyrgyz Republic ranks second with 58 medals, including 23 gold, 24 silver and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Laos are seeking to expand trade, investment and transport cooperation as the two countries look to deepen bilateral ties, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during talks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Astana on Sept. 3, reported Akorda. Tokayev described Sisoulith’s visit as historic, as it marks the first official visit…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is celebrating Kazakh Tazy Day for the first time on Sept. 3, commemorating the anniversary of the breed’s preliminary recognition by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 2024, reported the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The FCI made the decision in Amsterdam on Sept. 3, 2024, granting preliminary recognition to the…

ASTANA – Lao President and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Thongloun Sisoulith is visiting Kazakhstan on Sept. 3-4. This marks the first presidential-level visit between the two countries since they established diplomatic relations in 1997. The visit comes as both countries navigate a changing geopolitical and geoeconomic environment. Trade routes are shifting,…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the official opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek and greeted Kazakhstan’s national team, which consists of 152 athletes competing across all 43 disciplines at this year’s games, reported Akorda. The WNG officially opened at Bishkek Arena, drawing more than 50,000 spectators. Presidents of 17…

ASTANA – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into business and government processes, human expertise remains critical to ensuring effective decision-making, experts said at an Aug. 26 panel discussion at Nazarbayev University. The discussion focused on the challenges of digital transformation and the skills and competencies that are becoming increasingly important as AI reshapes the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transition to a unicameral parliament and the implementation of its new constitutional framework were among the key issues raised by foreign observers during the parliamentary vote taking place on Aug. 23. The country’s prospects for attracting international investment were also a major focus of their discussions. For international observers, the election to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transition to a single-chamber legislature entered a new stage Aug. 23 as voters went to the polls to elect the country’s first Kurultai, with international observers monitoring the process. The election is part of a broader effort to modernize Kazakhstan’s political institutions and strengthen their ability to respond to the country’s changing…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expanding academic and scientific cooperation with leading universities and research institutions in Japan and South Korea. The country seeks to strengthen higher education, research and artificial intelligence (AI) development. During visits to Seoul and Tokyo in August, Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek met with university leaders and government officials to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Kurultai election campaign entered its final stretch, with nationally televised debates dominating the campaign. The debates offered voters an opportunity to compare the platforms of the seven competing political parties. The campaign featured the first-ever team debates involving representatives of all seven parties, broadcast on the Jibek Joly television channel. The week…

ASTANA – Three historians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia explored how the Golden Horde continues to shape the historical narratives and identities of their countries during a podcast organized by Kazakh historian and Golden Horde researcher Zhaksylyk Sabitov. The discussion highlighted both the shared historical legacy of the medieval empire…

ASTANA – A United Arab Emirates company has secured a 25-year license to develop the Kenderlyk coal deposit in eastern Kazakhstan, expanding foreign investment in the country’s mining sector.  According to documents released ahead of public hearings in early August, MQ Emirates Group Ltd will develop Coal-Shale Field No. 1 of the Kenderlyk deposit using…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan confirmed that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in the United States (US) in December, following a meeting on Aug. 12 between Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.  Although Kazakhstan is not a…

ASTANA – A nationally televised debate on education dominated Kazakhstan’s election campaign during the week of Aug. 3-9. Representatives of the country’s seven political parties outlined their visions for reforming the education system during the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast. The debate consisted of four segments. Party representatives first presented their election platforms and questioned one another in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched a new phase of its effort to revive the iconic aport apple, a variety once renowned worldwide but now considered at risk of disappearing. Scientists are expanding orchards and establishing specialized nurseries to restore commercial production of the historic cultivar and supply growers with high-quality planting material. The Kazakh Ministry…

ASTANA – As climate change fuels increasingly intense heat waves, staying safe in extreme temperatures has become a growing concern across Kazakhstan. This summer, temperatures have climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, testing both people’s endurance and public health systems. While modern households rely on air conditioners and fans, Kazakhstan’s nomadic ancestors developed…

ASTANA – This week’s election campaign roundup covers developments from July 27 to Aug. 2, when Kazakhstan’s political parties intensified voter outreach following the first nationally televised debate and held dozens of campaign events nationwide. National televised debate draws public attention One of the week’s key campaign events took place on July 29, when Qazaqstan…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry said a complete shutdown of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is not under consideration, dismissing media reports suggesting the pipeline’s operations could be fully suspended. In a statement issued Aug. 1, the ministry said the CPC temporarily suspended operations on July 31 but continues to receive crude oil from shippers…

ASTANA – What began as a series of independent projects has grown into Kazakhstan’s first inclusive digital ecosystem, combining transportation, accessibility and communication services into a single platform designed by and for people with disabilities. Developed by Pavlodar-based university students Stanislav Kirichenko and Islam Kulenov, Involve aims to simplify everyday life through digital solutions that…

ASTANA – Twenty years after the first Kazakh crude reached China, the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline has evolved from an infrastructure project into one of Eurasia’s most strategically important energy corridors. More than a transportation route, the pipeline has strengthened economic ties between neighboring Kazakhstan and China while providing an alternative export corridor at a time of…

ASTANA – Political parties stepped up campaigning nationwide in the first week of Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai, the country’s new unicameral parliament. Since the campaign officially began July 23, parties have held tours, public forums, sporting events and meetings with voters to promote their platforms ahead of the Aug. 23 vote. Adilet launches…

The Astana Times continues its weekly roundup of key developments in campaigning for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections scheduled for Aug. 23. This edition highlights candidates’ policy proposals.  ASTANA – With campaigning underway for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections, seven political parties have unveiled programs outlining their priorities for the next parliamentary term. While their agendas overlap on issues…