Cooperation among Central Asia countries to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable management of natural resources is gaining momentum. The Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia held 28-30 November 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, makes a significant stride in advancing this shared agenda. The event is attended by government representatives from … [Read more...]
The inevitability of dialogue about peace or futility of new “Great Game” – Part One
Dr. Begench Karayev At the initiative of Turkmenistan and in accordance with resolution 77/32 of the United Nations General Assembly, 2023 was declared the “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace.” The essence of this motto is reflected in the “New Agenda for Peace” of the UN Secretary-General. As you know, in his analytical note released on July 20, 2023, … [Read more...]
Gender aspects of border and security management in focus of OSCE regional workshop in Turkmenistan
An OSCE-organized regional workshop on gender mainstreaming in border management, held in a blended format, took place on 23 and 24 November 2023 in Ashgabat. The workshop brought together, online and in-person, officials from the five Central Asian countries’ border security and management agencies. The Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, a member of the Mejlis … [Read more...]
DARYA project – Central Asia and the EU sum up the progress in flagship project focused on youth and education
Education and Labour Deputy Ministers from Central Asia gathered for two-day meeting (23-24 Nov 2023) in Torino, Italy, for a high-level meeting of DARYA (Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia), the first European Union’s regional project supporting education, youth employment and inclusive skills development in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, … [Read more...]
UNECE: SPECA States agree on a dedicated multi-partner trust fund and adopt a roadmap for digitalization of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
Meeting for the first time since the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was created in 1998, the Heads of State and Government of SPECA participating States adopted the Baku Declaration. The declaration endorses a roadmap for the digitalization of multimodal data and document exchange along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and … [Read more...]
Summit of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia in Azerbaijan – Outcomes
nCa Report On 24 November 2023, the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the participating countries of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was held in Baku. The Summit was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali … [Read more...]
Strengthening cooperation between Central Europe and Central Asian states is a real European interest, Hungarian FM says
At the 18th session of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Governing Council in Baku, Peter Szijjarto emphasized Hungary's view of cooperation between East and West as an opportunity rather than a threat. He believes that Central Asia can serve as a crucial bridge between these regions. Hungary supports all moves boosting the … [Read more...]
Kyrgyzstan’s President Highlights Upcoming Inaugural Central Asia–Japan Summit
In a landmark move, Central Asian nations Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will convene alongside Japan for the first-ever 5+1 summit in 2024, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the dialogue platform. The summit aims to foster deeper collaboration. This pivotal topic emerged during a meeting between President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan … [Read more...]
Central Asian Policymakers Examine Georgia’s Sustainable Energy Success and European Union’s Best Practices
A Delegation, comprised of 16 senior government officials and energy sector experts from the countries of Central Asia (CA), at the invitation of the European Union (EU), visited Georgia for a study tour on “Sustainable Energy in Practice: Georgia’s Success and EU Best Practices”. Organised by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”, … [Read more...]
ADB Appoints Yingming Yang as Vice-President for South, Central, and West Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Yingming Yang as Vice-President (South, Central, and West Asia) for a period of 3 years. He will be responsible for the management of the operations of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department and South Asia Department. Mr. Yang has over 30 years of experience in economic development, working on issues ranging from operations to … [Read more...]
Central Asian countries and Korea Launch Forum of Think Tanks
A roundtable of think tanks of Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea was held in Seoul on 20 November 2023, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan said in a press release. During the event, the participants discussed issues of cooperation within the framework of the Central Asia – Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum (CARK). Speaking at the event, Ambassador of … [Read more...]
Switzerland and Kazakhstan Collaborate on Water Projects for Central Asia
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is laying the groundwork for the second phase of the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) regional program, a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development through water cooperation among Central Asian nations. The Blue Peace Initiative seeks to promote water cooperation across … [Read more...]
Further strategic actions within the EU funded border management programme in Central Asia discussed in Tashkent
Funded by the European Union Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) held the third Regional Steering Group (RSG) meeting. This event serves as a steering instrument of the programme, which defines and monitors the strategic direction of the programme implementation. RSG held in Tashkent on November 14 and gathered donor, an implementing consortium and regional … [Read more...]
Lavrov met with ambassadors of Central Asian countries
On 17 November 2023, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov met with the ambassadors of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, accredited in Moscow, Russian foreign ministry reports. During the meeting, the sides evaluated Russia’s bilateral interaction with each Central Asian state, as well as within the framework of common international … [Read more...]
The EDB proposes ten practical steps to preserve irrigated land potential and support water conservation in Central Asia
In the summer of 2023, Central Asia was faced once again with water shortages and the significant impact these have on agriculture. The sector relies on irrigation, consuming up to 80% of available water, and has a poor track record with regard to the efficient use of water resources. The irrigation infrastructure is over 50 years old. More than half of all irrigated land has … [Read more...]
UNRCCA and EUSR Host The Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus Visit to European Union Institutions In Brussels
BRUSSELS, Belgium - On 13-15 November UNRCCA and the office of the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia (EUSR CA) jointly organized the visit of members of the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus (CAWLC) and civil society representatives from Central Asia to the Institutions of European Union in Brussels. The visit was organized within the framework of the … [Read more...]
2 billion tons of sand and dust, equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza, enter the atmosphere every year – warn UN experts
The prevalence of sand and dust storms has intensified worldwide, with human activity contributing to over 25% of these occurrences, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Each year, an estimated 2 billion tons of sand and dust enter the atmosphere, a weight equivalent to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza. This alarming trend was highlighted during the … [Read more...]
Central Asia – Republic of Korea: significance for Kazakhstan
Bauyrzhan Auken, Senior Expert of the Department of Asian Studies, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies On November 1, 2023, the 16th Session of Foreign Ministers of the Cooperation Forum “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” took place in Ashgabat. The session was dedicated to the theme “Collaboration through the realization of the enormous potential of youth in shaping a … [Read more...]
Ambassadors of Central Asian countries to Austria visited Graz, the second largest Austrian city
On 8-9 November 2023, at the initiative of the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Austria Tolenda Makeev, the ambassadors of the Central Asian countries to Austria visited the capital of the Austrian Federal State of Styria (Steiermark) – the city of Graz, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reports. The visit was organized with the support of Stefan Düss, … [Read more...]
Ashgabat Hosts Meeting on CASCA+ Multimodal Transport Corridor Development
A three-day meeting of heads of railway departments from countries participating in the international multimodal transport corridor "Countries of the Asia-Pacific region-China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye-Europe" (CASCA+) kicked off in Ashgabat on 15 November. Representatives from the public and private sectors of CASCA+ member countries … [Read more...]
UN Convention to Combat Desertification unveils latest data on land degradation in the world – Central Asia shows examples of effective tackling desertification
From 13-17 November 2023, Samarkand Uzbekistan hosts the twenty-first session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). At the opening of its first-ever meeting held in Central Asia, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) unveiled new data showing land degradation rapidly advancing in the region … [Read more...]
Central Asian Network on Statelessness prepares for GRF 2023
On 25-27 October 2023 the Central Asian Network on Statelessness (CANS) with support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, held its 7th annual meeting in UN Plaza, Almaty. As members of CANS, civil society organisations and academia from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share best practices in the reduction and prevention of statelessness. … [Read more...]
UNDP together with partners hosted a training on developing an SDG Information Platform for Central Asian countries
Ashgabat, November 13, 2023: A workshop on establishing a Regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Information Platform for Central Asian countries was convened in Ashgabat on November 6-10, 2023. The initiative to create an SDG information dashboard is implemented with technical assistance from UNDP and the Economic Research Institute of the Ministry of National Economy … [Read more...]
Regional Conference Advances Implementation of United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Central Asia
On November 2, 2023, during the 20th anniversary of UNCAC, the heads and experts of the anti-corruption bodies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Tashkent for the Conference on Fast Tracking the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption organized by UNODC ROCA. The intense negotiations led to the launch of … [Read more...]
Tashkent hosted the International Forum “Children and Youth in Action – Climate Change in Central Asia”
On 9 November 2023 Tashkent hosted the International Forum "Children and Youth in Action – Climate Change in Central Asia", dedicated to recognizing the role of children and youth in combating the negative impacts of climate change, including through the promotion of environmental education, UNICEF Uzbekistan reports. During the opening of the Forum, addressing the young … [Read more...]
Ashgabat to host 1st Turkmenistan Ashgabat Model United Nations (TAMUN) Regional Conference
The Government of Turkmenistan jointly with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Turkmenistan (UN RCO), the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights … [Read more...]
Regional Forum in Astana Focuses on Joint Central Asian Strategy in Run-Up to COP28 in Dubai
Assel Satubaldina Representatives of Central Asian countries and international organizations convened in the Kazakh capital on Nov. 7 to explore where the countries stand in their efforts to address climate change and come up with a joint regional strategy in the run-up to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP28. The global … [Read more...]
Empowering Youth Leaders in Central Asia for Successful Evidence-Based Drug Prevention
In the months September to October 2023, UNODC successfully organized a series of National Round Tables to kick off the Phase II of the project titled "Regional Network of Youth Organizations and Youth Champions of Change in Central Asia for drug-free, healthy, safe, and secure societies." This project is a joint effort between the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan took part in the G7 Dialogue with Central Asia
On November 8, 2023, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Berdiniyaz Myatiev took part in the online meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and the Group of Seven (G7). The meeting was attended by the heads of foreign policy agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the USA, and … [Read more...]
UNODC project Enhances Practical Cooperation and Experience Exchange Among Port Control Units in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
The practical cooperation and information exchange on high-risk cargo shipments along international trade and transport corridors are of utmost importance in facilitating the international trade. This cooperation represents a strategic priority for Customs authorities of the countries cooperating within the framework of the Inter-Regional Network of Customs Authorities and Port … [Read more...]
German Society for International Cooperation GIZ will launch a new stage of the trade facilitation project in Central Asia
The 10th regional meeting of the National Committees for Trade Facilitation of Central Asian countries started in Tashkent on 7 November, the Uzbek news portal Uzdaily.uz reports. The two-day meeting was organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Society for International Cooperation) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for … [Read more...]
UN forum on SDGs implementation in North and Central Asia reaffirmed shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Seventh North and Central Asia Multistakeholder Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals was on 1-2 November 2023 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The forum was organized by the UNESCAP Subregional Office for North and Central Asia. The high-level officials and representatives from various stakeholder groups reaffirmed their continued resolve and shared … [Read more...]
EU-funded programme keeps improving the educational and training processes of border and customs services in Central Asian region
From October 31 to November 2, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) organised a Regional consortium workshop for the heads of customs and border guard services’ training institutions from Central Asian countries in Ashgabat. This activity provided a platform to training institutions for enhancing cooperation and exchange of information on … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan-Korea and Central Asia-Korea Business Councils Hold Meetings in Ashgabat
On 2 November 2023, the 5th meeting of the Turkmenistan-Republic of Korea Business Council and the 4th meeting of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Business Council were held in Ashgabat, TDH reports. The Turkmenistan-Korea Business Council meeting was attended by representatives of ministries and industry departments, including the fuel and energy sector, the transport … [Read more...]
Eurasian Development Bank: By 2035, the capacity of hydroelectric power plants in Central Asia will grow by 8,900 MW
In 2028-2029, Central Asia will face a permanent and persistent water scarcity. The water deficit is estimated at about 5-12 cubic kilometers annually. At the same time, the demand for electricity in Central Asia is expected to increase significantly over the next 10 years. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Management Board, noted the above when … [Read more...]
MFA Turkmenistan issued PRESS RELEASE on the 16th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum
On November 1, 2023, a meeting of the foreign ministers took place in Ashgabat within the framework of the “Central Asia-Republic of Korea” cooperation format. The current meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea was devoted to the topic “Cooperation through the realization of the enormous potential of youth in … [Read more...]
Regional Security and Sustainable Development in Focus at Forum of the OSCE Secretary General and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asia Countries
On October 31, 2023, a meeting of the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the heads Foreign Ministries of the Central Asian states was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, during which a thorough exchange of views took place on the most important topics of regional security, sustainable development and stability. … [Read more...]
OSCE Secretary General to Discuss Regional Cooperation with Central Asian Countries in Ashgabat
OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid is on visit Turkmenistan on 31 October for meetings with Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OSCE's Central Asian participating States and other high-level officials. In Ashgabat, the Secretary General will attend the “Forum of the OSCE Secretary General and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asia Countries”, organized and … [Read more...]
The C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial in Samarkand issued a Joint Statement
On October 24, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and Ministers from the Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan under the auspices of the C5+1 regional diplomatic platform. During the C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial, … [Read more...]
S.Korean FM Park Jin to attend 16th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in Ashgabat – A series of events expected on the sidelines of the Forum
Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will attend the 16th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum to take place in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat on November 1, says Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. The Forum will be co-hosted by the Korean and Turkmenistan Ministries of Foreign Affairs and bring together the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian … [Read more...]
Participation of the minister of foreign affairs of Turkmenistan in Central Asia – EU meeting
Minister of foreign affairs of Turkmenistan delivered a speech at Central Asia – EU meeting On October 23, 2023, in Luxembourg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov took part in the 19th ministerial meeting “Central Asia - European Union”. In his statement, he highlighted the main areas of cooperation with the EU and priorities in interaction, which … [Read more...]
Heads of customs services of Central Asia and China discussed issues of future cooperation
On 17 October 2023, an informal meeting of the heads of customs services of Central Asian countries and China was held in Beijing, the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan reports. The meeting was timed to coincide with the third Belt and Road Forum and was a continuation of the negotiations held online on 21 April 2023. During the meeting, issues of cooperation within … [Read more...]
21 practical cooperation projects from BRF-2023 relate to Central Asia
A large number of practical cooperation projects were on the table at the BRF-2023. Of these, 21 relate to Central Asia. These are in addition to a vast array of projects of multilateral nature including the countries of Central Asia: Bilateral cooperation documents (1) The Chinese government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government to … [Read more...]
21 проект практического сотрудничества Китай, касающиеся Центральной Азии
На Международном форуме сотрудничестве Пояса и пути в Пекине было рассмотрено большое количество проектов практического сотрудничества. Из них 21 относится к Центральной Азии. Это в дополнение к широкому спектру проектов многостороннего характера, включая страны Центральной Азии: Документы о двустороннем сотрудничестве (1) Правительство Китая подписало меморандум о … [Read more...]
Kazakhstan hosted 2nd Meeting India-Central Asia National Security Advisers and Secretaries
On 17 October 2023, Astana, Kazakhstan hosted the Second Meeting of the India-Central Asia Secretaries / National Security Advisers of the Security Councils. National Security Adviser of India Ajit Doval, and National Security Advisers and Secretaries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Turkmenistan was represented by the Embassy … [Read more...]
Dialogue of Women of Central Asian discussed involvement in peace and security at the conference in Almaty
On 16 October 2023, an international conference on the theme "Women, peace and security" was held in Almaty on the platform of the Dialogue of Women of Central Asian countries. The event, chaired by Kazakhstan, was organized with the support of the United Nations and the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of … [Read more...]
UNRCCA co-organizes Regional Conference on the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia
On 9-13 October 2023, UNRCCA and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized a regional conference on the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia. The Early Warning Network is being designed to intensify and to systematize exchange of information and to coordinate the work of different national and regional entities operating in Central … [Read more...]
CARICC conducts the Meetings of Experts and the Council of National Coordinators of its Member States
On 2 - 3 October, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) conducted the Meeting of Experts followed by the regular session of the Council of National Coordinators of the CARICC Member States on 4 October. The events organized with the support of … [Read more...]
Railway can drive Central Asia’s development faster
Djoomart Otorbaev The Belt and Road Initiative has built remarkably efficient railways connecting China and Europe via Central Asia. These rail routes did not exist even a decade ago. Within a short period, they have boosted local and national economies thanks to their solid infrastructure, smooth operation and socioeconomic impacts. Between January and August in 2023 alone … [Read more...]
German-Turkmen relations have become much more active, says Ambassador Michael U. Bierhoff
In 2022, Turkmenistan and Germany celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. During this period, there has been a great dynamic in the development of relations between the two countries, and now we see how mutual interest in even greater exchange continues to grow. Especially such areas as healthcare, the financial sector, combating the effects of climate change … [Read more...]