Central Asia

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, right, meets with Maksat Babayev, chairman of state gas company Turkmengaz, to sign a preliminary deal. (Anadolu Agency)
Energy

Turkmenistan signs gas deal with Turkey, eyeing European sales

If finalized, Turkmenistan can reduce reliance on China as dominant customer

2 March 2024
Downtown Astana as seen from the official residence of Kazakhstan's president. The government aims to spur growth toward a goal of doubling GDP.
Politics

Kazakhstan aims for tricky economic reboot after cabinet shuffle

President Tokayev tasks new PM with spurring growth and trimming budget

10 February 2024
World Bank President Ajay Banga says more private sector investment is required to fund renewable energy projects. (Photo by Sayumi Take)
Finance

World Bank eyes Central Asia to expand renewable energy project

Ajay Banga believes Donald Trump realizes need for development finance

22 January 2024
This photo, showing the Exhibition Hall of the Union of Artists on the left, was one of a series that was first presented at the Tashkent Modernism.Index exhibition that took place in Milan in April and in Tashkent in October. (Photo by Armin Linke)
Life

Tashkent hopes to draw tourists to its modernist buildings

Capital of Uzbekistan undergoes drive to preserve cultural heritage

21 January 2024
South Korean star Son Heung-min, left, and Japan's Kaoru Mitoma, right, are playing in the 24-nation showcase. (Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters) 
Sports

Japan and South Korea eye football prize as Asian Cup kicks off

Favored duo will be on high alert for giant killers at the Qatar showcase

11 January 2024
From left, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and People’s Council of Turkmenistan Chairman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov attend the annual summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 3. (Organization of Turkic States)
International relations

U.S. has golden opportunity to engage Central Asia's Turkic states: analysts

In race to replace Russia, China and Iran also eye greater role in region

31 December 2023
Arkadag won its first 20 games of the season to clinch the league title. (Photo from Football Federation of Turkmenistan)
Sports

Turkmenistan's 'can't lose' soccer champs stir Soviet-era memories

Arkadag FC named after Central Asian nation's authoritarian ex-president

16 December 2023
Local transport in Lahore in March 1998. By this time, Pakistan had serious image problems that kept all but the hardiest travelers away. (Photo by Tom Vater)
Tea Leaves

Asia's overland hippie trail falls victim to geopolitics

Wars and fast travel have shut a once-popular route for Western travelers

6 December 2023
Japan's Fumio Kishida, right, and Kyrgyzstan's Sadyr Japarov met in Tokyo on Nov. 20, ahead of a planned visit to Central Asia by the Japanese leader next year.
International relations

Japan looks to wean Kyrgyzstan off reliance on China, Russia

Leaders stress friendship, commitment to rule of law in Tokyo meeting

21 November 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, left, on the sidelines of the Nov. 3 summit of the Organization of Turkic States.
International relations

Turkey and France jostle for Central Asia influence as Russia declines

Ankara leads Turkic state summit while Macron visits Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

4 November 2023
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa plans to invite Central Asian counterparts to attend an upcoming G7 gathering online.
2 November 2023
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Kyrgyzstan's leaders during a visit to the capital of Bishkek this week.
Belt and Road

China's Li Qiang calls for progress on Central Asia railway

Belt and Road link to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been delayed by cost debate

26 October 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Oct. 12.
International relations

Russia, China, U.S. and more woo Central Asia with summit diplomacy

Moscow's fading influence in its backyard opens door for Western charm offensive

14 October 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sees cooperation with the Global South as critical for a healthy international community. (Pool photo/Reuters)
International relations

Japan takes regional approach to diplomacy with ASEAN, Central Asia

Tokyo draws inspiration from 30-year-old TICAD framework for Africa

13 October 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to make his first known foreign trip since he was hit with an international arrest warrant in March.
International relations

Russia woos Central Asia with Putin's first trip under ICC warrant

CIS summit in Kyrgyzstan follows regional leaders' meetings with U.S., Europe

12 October 2023
Wind turbines in Kazakhstan's Almaty region. Japan and five central Asian countries have inaugurated a new ministerial-level dialogue on decarbonization.
Climate Change

Japan launches new decarbonization dialogue with Central Asia

Tokyo aims to blunt Russian and Chinese influence in key region

27 September 2023
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa meets with her Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in New York. (Photo courtesy of Japanese Foreign Ministry) 
International relations

Japan seeks to boost Central Asia relations with 1st summit in 2024

Region crucial to China's Belt and Road Initiative is rich in resources

22 September 2023
A cargo train approaches Kazakhstan's border with China: Over 80% of goods bound for Europe from China and Central Asia pass through Kazakhstan.
Opinion

Kazakhstan is building more connections with the world

Economic program will boost Europe-Asia cargo flows, accelerate green transition

20 September 2023
Yurts have been used for over 2,000 years in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian communities as practical, simple and portable homes. They are now getting a new lease of life as a draw for tourists.
Life

Yurt alert: Traditional tents make a comeback in Kazakhstan

Portable dwellings thrive as tourist attractions and emergency housing

9 September 2023
Stream article image
Most read in 2023

China's Belt and Road at crossroads as more loans turn sour

10 years in, Beijing enjoys greater clout but new investments trend down

7 September 2023
Russian service members drive armored vehicles before a military parade rehearsal in Moscow in April. 
Ukraine war

Russia, Central Asia locked in tug of war over Ukraine recruiting

From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, states clamp down on mercenary activity

29 August 2023
Russia recently struck a gas deal with Uzbekistan as President Vladimir Putin's government looks for new market opportunities and ways around sanctions. (Source photos by Reuters) 
International relations

Russia tightens Central Asia ties for gas sales, dual-use supplies

West tightens sanctions screws on Kyrgyz, other companies dealing with Moscow

4 August 2023
A canal surrounds Uzbekistan's Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Complex. Opened in 2022, the site is at the center of efforts to draw more international visitors. (Photo by David Andreas)
Travel & Leisure

Uzbekistan built a $580 million tourist draw, but will they come?

Poor transport, medical services key hurdles for ambitious travel strategy

15 July 2023
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is greeted at a local polling station during early presidential election in Tashkent on July 9.
Politics

Uzbek president reelected for seven-year term in snap election

Mirziyoyev wins 87.1% of vote in race without viable opposition

10 July 2023
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev applauds during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, China on May 18. 
Politics

Uzbekistan leader Mirziyoyev eyes third term in weekend polls

Presidential election comes after Central Asian nation hit by deadly unrest

8 July 2023