Central Asian leaders are gathering in Seoul this week for the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit, marking a major upgrade in a cooperation format that has brought the region and South Korea together at the ministerial level since 2007. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived in the Republic of Korea on 14 September for a state visit and will … [Read more...]
Seoul to hold 1st Central Asia summit, discuss critical minerals, supply chain cooperation
Park Boram Seoul will host the first South Korea-Central Asia Summit next week to discuss cooperation with the region in areas including critical minerals, energy sources and the diversification of global supply chains, the presidential office said Friday, Yonhap reports. The inaugural event, set for Wednesday, will bring together the heads of state of Kazakhstan, … [Read more...]
“C5+1”: The US and Central Asian States Agree on Steps to Deepen Partnership
On 9 September 2026, Ashgabat hosted a regular meeting of the Secretariat for Multilateral Cooperation in the “C5+1” format, which brings together the Central Asian states and the United States of America, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The meeting focused on the further development of the “C5+1” format, as well as practical aspects of interaction … [Read more...]
Time-tested friendship: Ashgabat marks 35th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence
On 8 September 2026, Ambassador Niyatbekzoda Vafo Alibek hosted a reception in Ashgabat to mark a milestone date — the 35th anniversary of Independence of Tajikistan. The event gathered members of the diplomatic corps, government agencies, and the public, standing as a vivid illustration of the growing bonds of good-neighborliness, mutual respect, and deep strategic partnership … [Read more...]
20th Anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Treaty: Central Asia Reaffirms Commitment to a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
The Central Asian states have reaffirmed their commitment to humanity’s common goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, while expressing concern over the lack of substantial progress in global nuclear disarmament. This was stated in a joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Digital Mirage: Why Low-Tech Remains the Real Engine of Stability
Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova Walk through the glossy corridors of the Astana Hub in Kazakhstan or attend a high-profile tech summit in Tashkent, and you will hear an intoxicating narrative. --- Central Asia, the story goes, is on the cusp of an absolute digital revolution. From FinTech breakthroughs and AI-driven government services to clean energy innovations, the … [Read more...]
Tajikistan at 35: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova As the Republic of Tajikistan marks the 35th anniversary of its state independence on September 9, 2026, the occasion prompts a profound reflection on one of the most remarkable transformations in the modern history of Central Asia. Three and a half decades ago, when the Soviet Union fractured, Tajikistan inherited a landscape fraught with … [Read more...]
Central Asia Must Prepare for the Climate That Is Coming
Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova A new United Nations assessment has delivered an uncomfortable message: the world's central climate target is no longer avoidable, only manageable. On 2 September 2026, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released Limiting Overshoot, which states plainly that global warming will cross the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels within … [Read more...]
Central Asia — Economic Model for Tomorrow Morning
Tariq Saeedi For three decades, the economic story told about Central Asia has largely been a story about what lies beneath the ground and what passes over it: hydrocarbons, cotton, minerals, and — increasingly — transit. That story is not wrong. It is simply incomplete, and its limits are becoming visible. A model built primarily on extraction and passage generates … [Read more...]
Afghanistan’s Trade Realignment: The Shift from Pakistan to Central Asia and Iran
How border closures, a Taliban directive, and new transit corridors are redrawing Afghanistan's economic map Tariq Saeedi For decades, Pakistan was Afghanistan's principal commercial gateway to the outside world. Geography made the relationship almost unavoidable: Afghanistan is landlocked, and Pakistan offered the shortest overland route to the Arabian Sea and the ports … [Read more...]
Xi Jinping–Sadyr Japarov Meeting in Bishkek: China and Kyrgyzstan Build a New System of Comprehensive Connectivity
Elvira Kadyrova The talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek on 31 August marked a new phase in China–Kyrgyzstan relations — from implementing individual infrastructure and investment projects to building a comprehensive system of economic connectivity spanning transport, border infrastructure, trade, standards, investment, … [Read more...]
Malaysia Further Strengthens Appeal Among Central Asian Travellers
Tourism Malaysia continues to see strong momentum across Central Asia, as travellers from the region choose Malaysia as their travel destination. From January to June 2026, Malaysia welcomed 53,347 visitors from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, a 23.3 per cent increase compared with 43,280 visitors during the same period in 2025. Most markets … [Read more...]
Xinhua: China’s cotton know-how takes root in Central Asia
Several hundred kilometers from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, cotton plants in a 1,000-mu (about 66.67 hectares) demonstration field are approaching one meter in height, each bearing 8 to 10 bolls. For Song Meizhen, chief scientist of a high-quality cotton research team at the Institute of Western Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the … [Read more...]
ADB Approves $400 Million Financing Facility to Modernize Borders, Facilitate Trade in CAREC Region
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million regional financing facility to modernize border crossing points, lower transport and logistics costs, and improve the movement of people and goods across the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region. The Border Upgrades for Integration, Logistics, and Development (BUILD) facility will support priority … [Read more...]
Seoul Hosts Cultural Promo Event Ahead of First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026
The Preparatory Office for the First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an offline Promotional Event for the First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026 at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. According to the foreign ministry of Korea, This offline promotional event was organized to wish for a successful hosting of … [Read more...]
Not Only a Crisis, But Solutions: How Central Asia Is Halting Land Degradation
Central Asia’s land resources are facing mounting pressure from degradation caused by extreme weather conditions, rapid rates of warming, systemic resource management errors, and high rates of urbanization. More than 80 million hectares—over a quarter of the region’s land area, or roughly four times the size of Kyrgyzstan—are already degraded, according to the authors of the … [Read more...]
Startup Culture and Central Asia
Startup culture, in its classic form, is a set of working habits — flat hierarchies, fast iteration, generalist roles, and a tolerance for failure — that grew out of Silicon Valley's need to build new things quickly under conditions of extreme uncertainty. It is often defined against "corporate culture," which prizes stability, process, and risk avoidance over speed and … [Read more...]
OSCE strengthens the regional capacity of Central Asian countries in medical support for Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations
From 3 to 13 August 2026, a regional OSCE training course on medical support for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operations was conducted at the Peace Operations Centre of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) in partnership with the Centre for Arms Control and Inspection … [Read more...]
Central Asian and Azerbaijani Customs Officers Participate in Maritime Transport Security Training
From 11 to 13 August 2026, a joint practical training session on information exchange in maritime transport took place at the international seaports of Turkmenbashi and Alyat, the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan reports. The event brought together members of port control units from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. It was organized by the UNODC … [Read more...]
Korea’s energy opportunity in Central Asia
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, deputy director of the Seoul Institute of Global Affairs For much of the post-Soviet period, Korea’s relationship with Central Asia has been defined by trade. Seoul saw Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as emerging markets for Korean cars, electronics and consumer goods. Three decades later, that relationship is being … [Read more...]
Speed, Scale and Savings: How the Slavic Caravan Is Boosting Trade Between Belarus and Central Asia
A new block train service linking Belarus with Central Asia is demonstrating how dedicated rail operations can significantly reduce transit times while lowering logistics costs for regional exporters. On 5 August 2026, the first Slavic Caravan freight train arrived at Chukursay station in Tashkent after completing the more than 4,000-kilometre journey from Belarus in less … [Read more...]
Preparations for the First “Central Asia – Korea” Summit: Draft “Seoul Declaration” Agreed in Astana
On 31 July, Astana hosted the 3rd Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) to prepare for the first "Republic of Korea – Central Asia" Summit. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Chung Eui-hae, and attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Arman Issagaliyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Idibek … [Read more...]
Exclusive Interview – William Leaf – Head of OSCE Centre, Ashgabat
If we were to put a human face on versatile fortitude, it would be William Leaf, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. Ambassador William R. Leaf is in his second year of tenure as the head of the OSCE mission. Backed by 30 years of rich experience, William Leaf is a kind of institutional memory for all the three dimensions of the OSCE: 1. The Politico-Military Dimension; … [Read more...]
A Fusion of Sports, Intellect, and Technology: Astana Hosts “Games of the Future 2026”
On 29 July, the grand opening ceremony of the international multi-sport tournament "Games of the Future 2026" took place at the Barys Arena in Astana. From 29 July to 9 August, the Kazakh capital is hosting the international event for the first time. The tournament uniquely bridges the gap between esports, traditional athletics, and cutting-edge technology, bringing together … [Read more...]
Kyrgyzstan to Host Informal Central Asia–Azerbaijan Summit
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay state visits to Kyrgyzstan from 30 July to 1 August. This was announced by Askat Alagozov, Press Secretary to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, according to Kyrgyz media reports. During the same days, an informal consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and … [Read more...]
Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements: Understanding the Resources Shaping the Future
nCa Report For much of the past decade, the global conversation on energy has focused on oil, natural gas and renewable power. More recently, another group of resources has moved into the spotlight: critical minerals and rare earth elements. These materials are now central to discussions on economic security, industrial policy, technological innovation and supply chain … [Read more...]
The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata (24 July 2026): Outcomes and Implications Ahead of the Bishkek Summit
1. Participants and Related Events The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met on 24 July 2026 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, under the Kyrgyz chairmanship. The meeting constituted the principal ministerial preparation for the Council of Heads of State Summit, scheduled for 1 September 2026 in Bishkek, which will … [Read more...]
Older Than the Silk Road: Sericulture in Central Asia Dates Back 4,000 Years
Sericulture emerged in Central Asia around 4,000 years ago—nearly 2,000 years earlier than historians long believed. Scientists reached this conclusion following the discovery of three ancient silkworm cocoons at the Bronze Age site of Sapalli Tepe in Uzbekistan, reports the online magazine Archaeology News. For many years, researchers linked the expansion of silk production … [Read more...]
Investments in the Eurasian Transport Network Exceed $345 Billion, with a Fifth Accounted for by Central Asia
Eurasia’s transport landscape is set for a major expansion, with 402 ongoing and planned projects valued at $345 billion, alongside an additional $100 billion worth of ventures slated for launch. Central Asian countries account for over 21% of the total investments directed toward the development of the Eurasian Transport Network. A total of 114 projects worth over $71.75 … [Read more...]
Turkmen Delegation Learns About South Korea’s Digital Water Technologies
From July 21 to 23, a Turkmen delegation visited South Korea to strengthen cooperation in the water management sector. The visit to Seoul took place at the invitation of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, News1.kr reports. The Turkmen delegation included representatives of the State Committee for Water Resources of … [Read more...]
Three Central Asian Nations Lead CIS in Exchange-Traded Volume Growth with Belarus
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have emerged as the top three Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations for growth in exchange-traded turnover with Belarus. Official data for the first half of 2026 shows exchange trade with Kazakhstan grew to 139% year-on-year, while Tajikistan reached 308%, and Turkmenistan spearheaded the surge at 360%. The figures were … [Read more...]
World Bank to allocate US $ 20 million for Central Asia water management project
The World Bank Groupʻs Board of Executive Directors approved a project to support transboundary water cooperation across Central Asia. It will help countries attract additional investment in water management and conservation and strengthen their collective capacity to manage shared water resources. Around 40 million people across Central Asia are expected to benefit from the … [Read more...]
Central Asia and China Hold Ecological Dialogue in Urumqi
The first meeting of the "Dialogue Mechanism" for heads of state research institutions of the five Central Asian countries and China took place in Urumqi. The event was supported by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Secretariat of the China–Central Asia … [Read more...]
Silk Road Meets ‘Arirang’: Gwangju Hosts Cultural Festival Ahead of Landmark Central Asia–Korea Summit
In a prelude to the upcoming historical "Central Asia–Republic of Korea" Summit scheduled for September 2026, the city of Gwangju hosted a cross-cultural music event titled “Cultural Journey along the Great Silk Road with the Song 'Arirang'.” Organized as part of the Republic of Korea’s International Friendship Days, the festival brought together traditional music masters … [Read more...]
South Korea to Share Smart Water Management Expertise with Central Asian Experts
In anticipation of the first "Republic of Korea – Central Asia" Summit, scheduled for September this year in Seoul, South Korea will host a training program for invited Central Asian experts in the field of water resources management, The Korea Post reports. The "Smart Water Management in Central Asia — 2026 Training Program" will take place from 20 to 24 July. It is … [Read more...]
Analytical Commentary: The Hormuz Strait Crisis and Its Ripples
Tariq Saeedi The Strait of Hormuz has again become the fulcrum of the US-Iran conflict, turning a corridor that normally carries close to a fifth of global oil trade into a contested chessboard. Traffic has thinned sharply since the war resumed, as Iran has struck commercial vessels, pushed ships toward a northern route through its own waters, and signaled it would levy … [Read more...]
Ensuring Long-Term Security Impossible Through Force Alone, says Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan consistently maintains that ensuring long-term security is impossible through military force alone. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Ahmet Gurbanov, at the 13th Meeting of the European Union–Central Asia High-Level Political and Security Dialogue, held on Thursday, 16 July 2026, in Brussels. According to the remarks by … [Read more...]
EU and Central Asia Prepare High-Level Agenda for 2026–2027
The European Union and the five Central Asian countries—Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—are preparing a series of high-level political events for 2026–2027. The plans were discussed during a recent joint meeting between the ambassadors of the Central Asian states and senior officials from key EU institutions at the European External Action … [Read more...]
Central Asia: The Author of Its Own Paradigm
Tariq Saeedi There is a peculiar habit in how the world writes about Central Asia. Almost every analysis, whatever its starting point, eventually drifts toward the same reference: the Great Game. It has become the default lens, the inherited grammar through which outside observers make sense of the region — a place perpetually being contested, courted, or divided by others, … [Read more...]
Inns of Empire: How the Seljuks Invented the Connectivity State
Elvira Kadyrova and Liliya Zhirnova Long before "connectivity" became a term of art in Central Asian diplomacy, the Seljuks had already built the infrastructure to prove the concept. Nine centuries before the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian transit routes became fixtures of regional summitry, the Seljuk state was solving an identical problem: how do you make a … [Read more...]
Pakistan’s Six New Overland Transit Routes to Iran: How Central Asia can benefit from these
nCa Report In April 2026, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 (effective April 25), formalizing six overland road corridors. These routes connect Pakistan’s key ports—Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar—to Iran’s border crossings at Gabd (near Gwadar/Rimdan) and Taftan. They were activated amid disruptions in … [Read more...]
To the young people of Central Asia – Choosing a Future You Can’t Yet See
Elvira Kadyrova and Liliya Zhirnova There is a question every teenager in Central Asia has been asked at least once, usually by a relative at a wedding, over a table too full of food to finish: What do you want to become? It used to be a fair question. There was an answer, and the answer meant something. Doctor. Engineer. Teacher. Diplomat. You picked a word, you followed … [Read more...]
Central Asia demonstrates positive dynamics in FDI inflows
Central Asia is considered as one of the subregions of developing Asia, demonstrating positive dynamics in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, according to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Key findings for the region: Overall trends: FDI inflows to Central Asia increased from $4 billion to $5 billion in 2025. The region … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Strategic Convergence: A Region Finding Its Own Voice
Tariq Saeedi For most of the post-Soviet period, Central Asia was described in the passive voice. It was a space traversed by pipelines, contested by larger neighbors, and periodically revisited by Washington, Moscow, and Beijing whenever their own priorities required it. That description no longer fits. Over the past three years, something distinctive has been taking … [Read more...]
FAO Manual Offers a Practical Roadmap for Reviving Carp Farming in Central Asia
As Central Asia seeks new opportunities to strengthen food security, create rural employment and diversify agricultural incomes, an important resource from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) deserves renewed attention. The publication, Training Manual on the Advanced Fry and Fingerling Production of Carps in Ponds, was prepared … [Read more...]
Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Could Central Asia Become the Next Green Aviation Fuel Hub?
nCa Report The decision by China's Sinopec Engineering to undertake the front-end engineering design (FEED) for Central Asia's first large-scale integrated Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) complex in Uzbekistan is more than another industrial investment. It is an indication that the region is beginning to position itself within one of the fastest-growing segments of the … [Read more...]
Digital Silk Road in Central Asia: From Connectivity to a Shared Digital Future
nCa Report The idea of the Silk Road has always been larger than trade. Historically, it was a network through which ideas, technologies, cultures and innovations travelled across Eurasia. Today, the emerging Digital Silk Road seeks to perform a similar function for the twenty-first century, creating pathways for data, digital services, artificial intelligence, cloud … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Quiet Confidence: Forging a “New” Regional Identity in Turbulent Times
Tariq Saeedi In an era defined by great-power rivalry, supply chain disruptions, and climate upheaval, Central Asia is refusing to be a passive bystander. Once dismissed as a post-Soviet periphery or a theater for the latest “Great Game,” the region—comprising Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—is increasingly viewing itself as a cohesive … [Read more...]
South Korea Launches Youth Support Group to Promote Historic First Korea-Central Asia Summit
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially mobilized a unique, youth-led diplomatic initiative to generate nationwide interest and international momentum for the upcoming inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit. On 3 July 2026, the Ministry hosted a formal launch ceremony in Seoul for the newly appointed “Supporters for the First Korea-Central Asia Summit … [Read more...]
EBRD finances first large-scale refractory concentrate processing facility in Central Asia
Anton Usov The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is contributing to the development of sustainable and ecologically responsible mining and processing in Kazakhstan by supporting the operations of its long-term client Solidcore Resources (SR), an AIFC-listed company and the country’s leading gold producer. The EBRD will provide a loan of up to US$ 300 … [Read more...]