Central Asia News Bulletin

This weekly section provides an overview of key political, economic, and social developments across the five Central Asian states. It highlights the region’s most relevant policy trends, international engagements, and sectoral updates in areas such as energy, digital development, environment, and finance. The section is compiled and edited by Maryam Agharabi, Coordinator of the China & Central Asia Studies Center. For enquiries, you may contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kazakhstan’s new economic strategy unveiled; Water crisis response in Mangystau Region; Kazakhstan & Italy to expand cooperation; Japan eyes higher education in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, WFP to cut food aid to Afghanistan. /10.09.2023

_{President Tokayev introduces his new economic plan during the ‘state-of-the-nation’ address (Source: MFA of Kazakhstan)}

This week, the media paid attention to President Tokayev’s new economic plan which calls for Kazakhstan to develop rare earth metals as the country’s ‘new oil’ and in-turn double the country’s economy by 2029, launch of a project for building a desalination plant in Karakiya district which could alleviate the region’s rising need for water, Italy and Kazakhstan deepening cooperation in mutual trade and investment projects, leaders in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan receiving Japanese leaders to discuss cooperation on education, economic growth, and environmental issues, and concerns of food scarcity deepening in Afghanistan as the World Food Program slashes aid to the country.

: 10 September 2023

Kazakhstan’s SCO Chairmanship & Iran’s full membership; BREC’s first conference on energy security and sustainability in Central Asia; Malaysian FM in Kyrgyzstan; UN’s New Framework to support Afghanistan; New World Bank grant for Uzbekistan. /10.07.23

_{Flags of SCO member states. Credit: Azer News}

The online summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on July 4 and the handover of the SCO's chairmanship to the Republic of Kazakhstan have been the key focal points of media coverage this week. Iran’s full membership in the organization was also announced, which garnered media attention, especially in Tajikistan. Additionally, the inaugural conference on energy security and sustainability in Central Asia organized by the Brussels Energy Club (BREC), the official visit of Malaysia’s Foreign Minister to Kyrgyzstan, the UN’s new Strategic Framework for Afghanistan for the 2023-2025 period, and the announcement of a new World Bank grant to aid Uzbekistan in reducing greenhouse gas emissions received media attention.

: 10 July 2023

President Tokayev holds extraordinary Security Council meeting on the situation in Russia; Tajikistan - Sweden Foreign Ministers meet in Luxembourg; Luxembourg & Switzerland - Kazakhstan increase cooperation; Kazakhstan & Iran to increase Trade. /03.07.23

_{Kazakhstan’s PM Smailov chairing a June 27 government meeting on the new Social Code’s norms. Credit: Primeminister.kz}

Media sources this week covered Kazakhstan's contribution to advancing global standards in the areas of social welfare, particularly its reform of the Social Code, the broader economic repercussions of the war in Ukraine, the improvement of diplomatic ties between Kazakhstan and Iran, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, and between Tajikistan and the EU, through a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), and the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the region.

: 03 July 2023

Steinmeier visits Central Asia; Kazakhstan’s PM visits Baku to discuss TITR; Turkmenistan participates in UN Counter Terror conference; Concerns are voiced on Women’s Right to Education in Afghanistan; Astana Process comes to an official end. /25.06.23

_{A student looking at the ruins of a classroom at Kabul University, after an ISIS attack that killed 22 students in November 2020. Source: NY Times}

This past week, media outlets focused on the increasing collaboration between Germany and Central Asian countries in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), as well as in the industries of oil, gas and energy, and direct foreign aid and investment by the European country. The media also reported on the strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan especially within the context of the TITR, Kazakhstan's announcement of ending the Astana Process on Syria, Turkmenistan’s participation in the UN’s Third Counter-Terrorism Week, and the concerns voiced at the UN Human Rights Council meeting about human rights violations, particularly the situation of women and girls, in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

: 25 June 2023

EU – CAS to strengthen interregional ties; Iran – Taliban clash over Water allocation; Kazakhstan to build NPP without a referendum; Tajikistan receives ADB’s President; Direct passenger flights to connect Ashgabat - Incheon, South Korea. /18.06.23

_{Heavily-armed Taliban Fighters on a leisurely boat ride. Source: The National UAE}

This past week, the annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue between the EU and Central Asian countries and their discussions over water security in the region, the longstanding water conflict between Afghanistan and Iran, the issue of constructing a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan, the Gazprom and QazaqGaz agreeing to transport Russian gas to Uzbekistan, the President of Asian Development Bank’s visit to Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – South Korea moving toward closer ties made it to the regional headlines.

: 18 June 2023

Central Asian Prospects assessed at the Astana International Forum; CAS & Qatar, China & Afghanistan increase cooperation; Lavrov visits Tajikistan; World Bank issues June 2023 Global Economic Prospects Report, and reports on Afghanistan. /11.06.23

_{Source: Jibek Joly TV}

The most significant event of this week was the Astana International Forum (AIF), which took place on June 8 and 9. It highlighted Central Asia's key role in contributing to international discussions on development and security. Media sources also covered the bilateral talks between Qatar and Kazakhstan, Qatar and Uzbekistan, and Qatar and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the efforts to strengthen relations between China and Afghanistan. Additionally, Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Tajikistan received media attention, and the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, issued on Tuesday, reported that the global economy remains in a precarious state. The institution also covered the Food Crisis in Afghanistan, warning against its consequences for the country, the region, and the global community.

: 11 June 2023

EC reports on Sustainable Transport Connections between Europe and Central Asia; a report on Karakalpak activism gets published; Kazakhstan and UK will increase Number of Flights. /27.05.23

_{Civil Aviation Authorities of Kazakhstan & UK meet in London. Source: Civil Aviation Committee}

During the past week, analysts focused on significant events from the previous year, including the unrest in Karakalpakstan and clashes at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. Additionally, a study aiming to enhance connectivity between Central Asia and Europe was published, it was reported that the number of weekly flights between Astana and London will increase, and an incident between Tajik and local students in Russia made it to the headlines.

: 27 May 2023

Oil Majors Sued by Kazakhstan's Government Over Billions in Revenue; Turkmenistan to Top Central Asia in GDP growth rate; Russia & Kyrgyzstan establish Common Air Defense System. /16.04.23

_{Kashagan Offshore Oil Field Project. Credit: Astana Times}

This past week, media outlets paid attention to ADB’s forecasts for Turkmenistan's economic growth, Kazakhstan's relations with the oil majors operating in some of the world's largest oil fields, and Russia – Kyrgyzstan establishing a unified air defense system.

: 16 April 2023

Central Asia's Weekly

Media Monitoring