Kyrgyzstan

A Kazakh crew disinfects the streets of the capital, Nur-Sultan, on March 25. The country was the first to record COVID-19 cases in Central Asia.
Coronavirus

Central Asia virus responses run gamut from crisis to nonchalance

Pandemic tests economies, health systems, China ties -- and folk remedies

1 April 2020
A child wears a mask in Thailand slum. The World Bank's forecast of a "third shock" could devastate economic growth and increase poverty across developing Asia. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

World Bank warns of 'third shock' after coronavirus and trade war

Developing Asia urged to address expected poverty surge, financial distress

31 March 2020
A girl stands in the doorway of her family's ger in Altanbulag, Mongolia. Her family, herders, began accepting guests via Airbnb in 2016. 
Life

Mongolians embrace 21st century tourism boom

Business opportunities blossom as nomads discover Airbnb

14 February 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
International relations

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China

Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire

13 February 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Despite the fanfare surrounding use of Gwadar port for trade with Afghanistan, experts say the facility has a long way to go before China sees any return on its investment.
Belt and Road

Beijing-backed Pakistan port opens as hub for Afghanistan trade

Gwadar challenges Indian interests in region, but China's ROI remains unclear

23 January 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin: The Russian leader announced in September that the EAEU would start talks on a trade deal with India.
International relations

Russia woos India to sign trade pact with Eurasian Economic Union

Moscow hopes to show global heavyweights take its bloc seriously

15 January 2020
Where's the beef? Aono's investments in Mongolia are in areas unrelated to its meat business, such as heavy machinery leasing.
Companies

Japanese meat dealer hungers for fresh start in Mongolia

Falling domestic demand sends Aono Freshmeat overseas in search of new business

23 December 2019
An Azerbaijani company will sell these chocolate candies, made with green tea from Mie Prefecture, at local supermarkets, with plans to eventually take the confections to Russia, Europe and the Middle East.
Trade

Japan's farmers find customers abroad through H.I.S. travel agency

Discount trip planner puts Azerbaijan branches to work selling green tea

21 December 2019
Central Asia's most populous country has the veneer of a multiparty system but no true opposition.
Politics

Uzbekistan election exposes limits of image-polishing reforms

China's economic influence will inevitably become political, experts say

19 December 2019
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a written interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, said joining the World Trade Organization and cracking down on corruption are among his immediate priorities.
Interview

Uzbekistan plans over $6bn in joint projects with Japan

President Mirziyoyev to pitch resource development during Japan trip

18 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura speaks to Nikkei on Sept. 14, 2018 in Fukuoka. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Obituaries

Japanese doctor who watered Afghan deserts: Nakamura in his own words

Tetsu Nakamura talked about his life and mission in 2018 Nikkei interview

9 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura in the Gamberi Desert, Afghanistan in 2008
Obituaries

Tetsu Nakamura: Humanitarian who devoted his life to Afghanistan

Slain Japanese doctor wanted to 'shine light into dark corners'

5 December 2019
The Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, home to half of Mongolia's population and 90% of its universities
Technology

Mongolia's emerging IT sector leads economy in new direction

Returnees armed with AI and fintech skills seed thriving startup scene

11 November 2019
A Chinese freight train travels through the Marmaray Tunnel under the Bosporus in Istanbul early Thursday. The journey was the first uninterrupted freight train journey from Turkey to Europe, transporting cargo from China while skirting Russia. (Anatolia News Agency)
Belt and Road

Chinese freight train skirts Russia on new route into Europe

Japan-built Bosporus tunnel allows Beijing to diversify cargo transportation

9 November 2019
The talks between representatives of Taliban militants and a number of Afghan political factions in Beijing come as the U.S. has yet to resume peace talks with the Taliban. (Nikkei Montage)
Belt and Road

China to host Afghan rivals in drive to expand Belt and Road

Taliban included in peace talks as Beijing aims to isolate Xinjiang separatists

27 October 2019
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani speaks in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo on Oct. 22. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Interview

Afghan president wants direct talks with Taliban, if reelected

Ghani says Pakistan holds key and needs 'to be constructive' toward peace process

22 October 2019
Khaltmaagiin Battulga's first state visit to India is an example of the way smaller countries on China's periphery are seeking allies to balance their neighbor's growing might.
Opinion

Mongolia needs allies to withstand China's looming threat

Ulaanbaatar turns to US and India in face of Beijing's military and economic might

9 October 2019
The liberal visa requirements are helping to expand tourism and foster regional integration.
Interview

Uzbekistan still pushing 'Silk Visa', trade minister says

More Japanese business investment wanted as Chinese presence reigns supreme

8 October 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga attend a welcoming ceremony ahead of their September talks in Ulaanbaatar.
International relations

Russia renews interest in Mongolia to counter Chinese influence

Rebuilding ties with former close ally crucial to Moscow's pivot to the east

3 October 2019
A display of Kagome juices sold in Singapore.
Food & Beverage

Kagome hopes to serve veggie drinks in Singapore and Mongolia

Japanese juice maker aims for eightfold surge in sales to Asia

11 September 2019
Since the 1990s, all aspects of Kazakh-Sino relations -- delimiting the common border, bilateral trade, Chinese companies' arrival in the Kazakh oil and gas sector -- have been 99% closed to public scrutiny, one analyst says.
International relations

Kazakh president's upcoming Beijing trip stokes Sino-phobia

Transparency needed if Kazakhstan is to benefit from China projects: analysts

10 September 2019
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, center, hand shakes with Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, right, and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi prior to a meeting in Islamabad on Sept. 7.
International relations

China edges closer to Afghanistan as US cancels peace talks

Taliban attacks irk Trump, opening the door for Beijing's overtures to Islamabad

9 September 2019
From left, Naypyidaw, Putrajaya and Astana (source photo from Reuters)
Politics

A short history of relocating capitals in Asia

Indonesia's move has precedents in places such as Myanmar and Malaysia

30 August 2019
Chinese and Afghan national flags flutter on a lamppost on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Belt and Road

Afghanistan peace talks open way for China's Belt and Road

As US looks to end its longest war, Beijing cultivates ties with Taliban

27 August 2019