Central Asia - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 2173 - 2178 of 2614

Kyrgyzstan’s ‘Be Responsible!’ Health Program Screens 680,000 Men

The key aim of Kyrgyzstan's 'Be Responsible!' program is to encourage men to attend primary health care institutions for check-ups and specifically, the early detection of non-communicable and chronic diseases. According to a new report by the country's Ministry of Health, in just under a month, more than 680,000 men visited family doctors. For 149,000, it was either their first ever visit or the first in two years. The Ministry of Health's press centre hailed the success of the widespread campaign to attract attendances saying, "More than 44,000 men were categorized as having a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, and almost 33,000, a high risk of diabetes. The total number of men who visited medical institutions amounted to 47 percent of those over 18 years of age living in the country." Cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease and diabetes are categorized as chronic diseases. Data collected by the ministry indicates that in 2022, 52.1% of the mortality rate in men was caused by cardiovascular disease; 12.2% by cancer, and 5.5% by respiratory diseases. Doctors also drew attention to poor nutrition including a high salt intake and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables; the use of tobacco, alcohol abuse, and low levels of physical activity as contributing factors to poor health. With financial support from the Swiss government, the first screening campaign for Kyrgyz men was conducted in 2019. In response to doctors' reports of the rising number of men taking better care of their health, the Ministry of Health issued an order for the program to be conducted nationwide, on an annual basis, from 2023 onwards.

Central Asia Home Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Life & Culture Features Uzbekistan International Affairs

Samarkand Replaces Paris as Host of UNESCO Conference

The Silk Road Samarkand tourism and convention complex will host the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2025 -- the first time the globally significant event will be held outside of Paris since 1985. The conference will focus on discussions and decisions on UNESCO's activities. Besides Samarkand, conference events will also be held in the cities of Tashkent, Bukhara, Khiva and Shahrisabz. Samarkand was not chosen as the host venue by chance. Not only is it a great historical open-air museum city, but it has also managed to host a number of important international events over the past six months. At next year's UNESCO conference, officials plan to develop projects for establishing the State Museum of the Great Silk Road in Samarkand, restoring Amir Timur's gardens, restoring the Bibi-Khanum complex -- as well as a master plan for protecting the historical center of Bukhara, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Samarkand, by the way, has recently become the subject of heated debate over the construction of the ethnographic tourist center Bokiy Bukhoro (Eternal Bukhara) on the borders with the historical center and buffer zone of Bukhara. The complex, which will occupy an area of 32.6 hectares, involves the demolition of 29 state facilities, including the buildings of the hokimiyats (municipal offices) of Bukhara region and Bukhara city, the regional prosecutor's office, school No. 2, Bukhara State Medical College, College of Culture, Bukhara Arena stadium and others. Since 2017, 14 unique examples of Uzbek national cultural heritage have been included in the UNESCO lists. Bukhara was included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and last September, the 1,050th anniversary of the birth of the great polymath and scholar Abu Rayhon Beruni was widely celebrated at UNESCO headquarters.

Central Asia Turkmenistan International Affairs Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Local Politics Turkmenistan Business & Economy

Turkmenistan Bans Iranian Colas and Face Creams

Authorities in Turkmenistan have introduced a number of new import restrictions, according to a report by correspondents from the Chronicles of Turkmenistan. At the request of Iran, the Bajgiran border crossing with Turkmenistan was closed from February 25 to March 11. The crossing is now operational, but imports of bottles of cola and hand and face cream from Iran are forbidden. Customs officials cited the discovery in February of multiple individuals smuggling drugs in cola and face cream bottles as justification for the import ban on those specific goods. Permits for commercial border crossings are granted for six months at a time, and certificates and other paperwork have to be compiled by those who wish to extend their permits. These are now only accepted on one working day per month, as opposed to previously being accepted on any working day. The one working day per month is also subject to change. On that one day, authorities will accept documents from up to 100 people. The prohibition on import of goods that are in high demand has already dealt a serious blow to cross-border merchants and traders -- even though many of them have valid permits to enter the neighboring country, and the prospects for getting new ones include a long, arduous process.

Central Asia Opinion Head Home International Affairs

Central Asia Can Help Bring Afghanistan into the International Fold

Afghanistan's situation remains deeply troubling, reflecting a complex history of conflict and political instability that has severely impacted its social and economic fabric. The Soviet Union's invasion 45 years ago, followed by the Taliban's rise to power in 1996 and the U.S. involvement after the September 2001 terrorist attacks linked to Al-Qaeda, and finally the Taliban’s return to leadership in 2021, have all shaped the current crisis. Today, Afghanistan appears no closer to becoming a functioning state capable of contributing positively to the global community. As recent as 2020, nearly half of the country’s population lived below the poverty line. The plight of women and girls continues to be particularly dire as they have been denied secondary education since the Taliban regained power nearly three years ago. An invigorated engagement with the international community would no doubt provide multiple benefits to not only Afghanistan’s own people but also to the larger region. Whether the troubled country remains a zone of conflict or becomes a contributor to a sustainable future will depend on its ability and willingness to eventually integrate into broader regional and global frameworks. A state’s adherence to modern democratic values is often seen as one of the conditions for recognition as a genuine international partner by the global community. These norms are usually associated with Western-oriented ideologies and are therefore difficult for today’s Taliban-led Afghanistan to embrace and implement. There are possible ways to bridge this apparent divide. At a meeting held in Doha on 18-19 February 2024, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reported that he had begun consultations on the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan to “coordinate engagement between Kabul and the international community.” Pakistan, who shares a 2,640-km border with Afghanistan, proposed that the envoy should be a “Muslim, experienced diplomat and from the region”. Pakistan’s candidacy is tarnished, however, by accusations that it provided military support to the Taliban, which Pakistan’s government denies. Turkey, another possibility, is a NATO member that has sustained political and economic ties with Afghanistan. However, its geographical distance makes it less of a stakeholder in the economic and security environments impacted by Afghanistan and as such, it lacks some of the necessary incentives and leverage points needed to influence Afghanistan’s actions. Central Asia’s unique insights and motivations to help Afghanistan In the same Doha gathering, Guterres also proposed establishing a contact group of states that might include the “P-5 [the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom] with a group of regional countries and relevant donors” for a more coordinated approach to engaging Afghanistan’s “de facto authorities”. The Central Asian republics making up the “C-5” should certainly be considered among the “regional countries” grouping that Guterres mentioned. Firstly, Central Asia has been affected by economic and security developments in Afghanistan, including narcotics trafficking, as well as by the overflow radical extremism and a resurgence of the militant cause. The region plays critical role today in curtailing the spread of illiberal and violent ideologies and...

Central Asia Business & Economy Kazakhstan Kazakhstan International Affairs Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan and China Increase Trade by 30 Percent

By the end of last year, trade volume between Kazakhstan and China had increased by 30 percent. Kazakhstan sends oil, gas and metals to China, while importing clothing, machinery and cars. Mutual trade between the countries hit $31.5 billion in 2023, which is 30.4% more than in 2022. The main share of bilateral trade between the countries is imports to Kazakhstan of $16.8 billion. At the same time, exports increased by 11.7% over 12 months to $14.7 billion. China takes 22.5% of Kazakhstan's total trade with foreign countries: 27.4% of imports and 18.7% of exports. Popular export categories include refined copper and unprocessed copper alloys, natural gas, precious and rare earth metals, as well as radioactive elements and ferroalloys. However, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture reports that in recent years the demand for organic and environmentally friendly agricultural products produced in Kazakhstan has increased among Chinese buyers -- and the export of those products to China last year almost doubled, to $1.01 billion.

Central Asia Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Oil Products Were Kazakhstan’s Most Transported Cargo in 2023

In 2023, refined petroleum products became the most transported cargo by rail in Kazakhstan, according to the Ministry of Transport. Last year more than 27 million tons of cargo was transported by rail, up 18% from the 23.1 million tons of oil products shipped by rail in 2022, the ministry said. "Today, cargoes are mainly transported in the [directions of] China, Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia. Most of the transported goods are oil products," the ministry commented. The ministry also reported that under an agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), railway tariffs for the state railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Joly, for transportation are differentiated by type of cargo. Prices are set by the Committee for Regulation of Natural Monopolies of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan based on the national investment program. According to the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, last year the country produced 89.9 million tons of oil. In January this year, crude oil production amounted to 6.7 million tons, which is 3.2% less than in January 2023.