Politics

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
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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
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
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an online summit of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from the Kremlin on July 4.
International relations

Putin claims unity, Xi slams decoupling at India-hosted SCO talks

Online meeting comes days after Wagner uprising shook Moscow and the region

4 July 2023
Participants celebrate a spring equinox festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The country is seeking to attract businesses leaving Russia. 
Ukraine war

Kazakhstan woos over 400 Western firms exiting Russia

Exodus by businesses lifts Central Asian economy

27 June 2023
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, right, met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Russia's Victory Day in May. (Pool via Reuters)
Opinion

Kazakhstan's backdoor trade with Russia must be stopped

Time for sanctions over funneling of restricted goods to support war in Ukraine

15 June 2023
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban inspect the scene of an operation against Islamic State militants at a hideout on the outskirts of Kabul in November 2021.
Terrorism

Afghanistan-based extremists spark terror fears in Central Asia

Islamic State's branch beefing up propaganda to recruit Uzbek, Tajik fighters

10 June 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and leaders from five Central Asian nations at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian on May 19.
International relations

China's Xi pledges billions in loans to Central Asian nations

Beijing aiming to fill void left by Russia in former Soviet republics

19 May 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met ahead of a China-Central Asia summit on Wednesday.
International relations

China to convene Central Asian leaders to counter G-7 summit

Xi aims to bolster ties on security, Belt and Road projects

18 May 2023
According to government figures, 90.2% of participants in the April 30 referendum voted in favor of revising the constitution.
Opinion

Uzbekistan's improved constitutional rights are meaningless

Law already guaranteed freedoms, no reason to expect implementation

8 May 2023
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev votes in Tashkent on April 30. The passage of constitutional reforms could allow him to stay in power until 2040.
Politics

Uzbekistan votes 'yes' to new constitution in victory for president

Mirziyoyev wins more time as critics question promises of more power to the people

1 May 2023
Uzbeks cast ballots in Tashkent during the country's 2021 presidential election.
Opinion

Uzbekistan's revised constitution can support democratic transition

Citizens have come to expect protection of rights and freedoms

29 April 2023
From left: Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attend the SCO meeting in New Delhi on April 28.
International relations

India sends Pakistan a message, Russia slams West at SCO meeting

Moscow's defense minister urges 8-member bloc to tighten military ties

28 April 2023
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a close re-election race after two decades in office.
Turkey elections

Turkey's Erdogan touts accomplishments ahead of tight election

Pro-Western rival Kilicdaroglu holds narrow lead in poll

15 April 2023
A voter casts her ballot during Kazakhstan's parliamentary election on March 19.
Politics

Kazakhstan's new parliament has old look after reset falls short

Election marred by uneven playing field, apathy and allegations of irregularities

25 March 2023