Kazakhstan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan Could Become Main Transport Link Between Europe And Asia

Addressing the Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity on January 29th in Brussels, Belgium, Kazakhstan’s transport minister Marat Karabaev proposed Kazakhstan as the most sustainable main transport route between Europe and Asia. Mr Karabaev said that in the next five years Kazakhstan intends to attract investments worth €40bn ($43.3bn) in major transport infrastructure projects. During this period Kazakhstan plans to reconstruct transit corridors with a length of 4,700km and repair the roads that form the basis of the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor. “To implement these projects we propose raising funds within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and invite European contractors to take part in the construction of roads in Kazakhstan,” Mr Karabaev said. Kazakhstan will construct 1,300km of new railway lines and modernize the existing infrastructure. This work is also aimed at increasing the transport capacity between Asia and the European Union. It is also planned to transfer 22 airports in Kazakhstan to the management of investors. To strengthen Kazakhstan’s Caspian fleet and create a container hub in the port of Aktau, investors are offered 171 hectares for the construction of terminal facilities. It is possible to transfer the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk to trust management on ship-or-pay terms, the minister said.

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EU To Simplify Visa Regime For Kazakhstanis

Citizens of Kazakhstan can currently travel to 34 countries without requiring a visa, and it seems the power of the Kazakhstani passport may be set to increase further still. At the end of last week Kazakhstan's deputy minister of foreign affairs, Alibek Bakayev, held a second round of talks with the head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas, on the issue of EU visas. The introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU is not currently being discussed. However, the EU Schengen-area visa regime is being improved in the following areas: - introduction of a single list of documents required for a visa application; - a reduction in consular fees; - a shortening of the waiting period for applications; - increasing the validity period for multiple-entry visas. In 2024 citizens of Kazakhstan can visit 34 countries without obtaining a visa from a foreign consulate. These are: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, Hong Kong, Iran, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Oman, UAE, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. There are also several states where one can get a "visa upon arrival" stamp immediately upon entry. These states are Zambia, Indonesia (for 30 days), Mauritius, Namibia, and the Seychelles. However, that list will shrink in the spring of 2024: Kazakhstan's temporary visa-free regime with Thailand end on February 29. According to the Global Passport Power Ranking 2024 by Passport Index, Kazakhstan's passport ranks 56th in the world in terms of freedom of movement bestowed upon its holder.

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Kazakhstan Freezes Transit Cost of Russian Oil To China

KazTransOil JSC, Kazakhstan’s national oil pipeline operator, on January 26th said it will freeze the cost of transiting Russian oil to China until 2034. Until December 31st 2033 the cost of transporting Russian oil to China through the territory of Kazakhstan will amount to $15 per ton (excluding VAT), the company said. KazTransOil also said it has extended until December 31st 2033 its contract with Russia’s Rosneft oil company for the transportation of Russian oil through Kazakhstan to China. From 2014-2023, KazTransOil transported 91 million tons of Russian oil to China along the Atasu–Alashankou oil pipeline, which is part of the Kazakhstan-China main oil pipeline system and belongs to Kazakhstan-China Pipeline LLP, a joint venture of KazTransOil JSC (50%) and China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd (50%). The design capacity of the Atasu–Alashankou pipeline is 20 million tons of oil per year. Russia has been seeking to increase its oil exports to China after western sanctions were imposed on its exports over its invasion of Ukraine.

Central Asia International Affairs Kazakhstan International Affairs Kazakhstan

Negotiations on Syria Have Started in Kazakhstan

The 21st meeting of the Astana process on Syria has started in the capital of Kazakhstan. The two-day round of negotiations will continue until January 25th. The main agenda of the meeting is the development of the regional situation around Syria, efforts for a comprehensive settlement in the SAR, the humanitarian situation, and mobilization of the international community to promote post-conflict reconstruction of Syria and others. Delegates from the guarantor states of Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition are taking part in the negotiations, whilst representatives from Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon are acting as observers. Last June, Astana hosted the 20th meeting on Syria, wherein representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan proposed that the meeting be the last in the “Astana Process” framework, stating that the task was fulfilled and all of its goals had been realized. However, earlier this week it emerged that Kazakhstan received a collective appeal from the participants in the process to resume negotiations. The Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan noted that Astana had not been chosen as a platform for these negotiations by chance, but because it was convenient both politically and geographically for all of the participants, whilst also enhancing Kazakhstan’s standing on the global stage. The head of the delegation from Russia, Alexander Lavrentiev, stated that Russia was one of the initiators of the resumption of this format of negotiations. "We, the guarantor countries of the ‘Astana Process’ on Syria studied this issue and came to the conclusion that Astana should remain the host platform,” Lavrentiev said. “There was a joint request from the three countries to the leadership of Kazakhstan - Turkey, Iran and Russia." Lavrentiev also noted how Kazakhstan's activity in the international arena is expanding, drawing attention to the nation’s joining the UN mission in the Golan Heights. “There, peacekeepers from our Rosgvardiya also maintain stability,” he stated. “I believe that cooperation between our countries will expand and will be useful in this area, as well. Therefore, I believe that the Astana format will remain a very effective mechanism; however, it is obvious that the settlement of the Syrian issue is still far away. The level of trust between the warring parties is still low." Kazakh political analysts noted that with its multi-vector policy, conflict resolution is one of the main concepts of Kazakhstan's foreign policy."Kazakhstan is a trusted partner,” said the scientific head of the Center for Analytical Studies, Eurasian Monitoring, Taisiya Marmontova. “The Astana platform is seen as safe and effective. Now the Arab-Israeli conflict has escalated, it can be seen as doubly commendable that Syria is making great efforts to find points of contact that will allow the opposing groups to launch a constitutional process and remove Syria from the map of hot spots in the world."

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Kazakhstan President Tokayev Makes First Visit to Vatican

During his visit to Italy last week, Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made his first official visit to the Holy See at the invitation of Pope Francis. During the meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on January 19th, Tokayev expressed gratitude to the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church for his tireless efforts to serve humanity around the world, Tokayev’s press service reported. “Your prayer for peace instilled aspiration and new hope not only in the hearts and minds of thousands of Catholics, but of many of our fellow citizens of other religions. Today, multiethnic and multiconfessional Kazakhstan, which has been historically located at the crossroads of various civilizations, is a proud home to the largest Catholic community in Central Asia,” said Tokayev. “We have managed to form our own model of peace and national dialogue, based on the principles of ‘unity-in-diversity’. People of various faiths have their places of worship in Kazakhstan. Fostering religious freedom is an integral part of my presidential agenda,” the Kazakh leader emphasized. Tokayev stressed that “We should all come together as one, despite our differences, in order to preach and practice peace, facilitate an ongoing dialogue across cultures and religions, and to drive forward development for the benefit of people of all faiths.” The Pontiff thanked Tokayev for his contribution to peace and harmony. The Kazakh president also met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. The Holy See’s press office said that during the meetings with president Tokayev, appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan, with particular reference to mutual collaboration in the sphere of interreligious dialogue. Regional and international themes were also discussed, with special attention to conflicts and humanitarian issues. Pope Francis visited Kazakhstan in September 2022, when he took part in the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Astana. This Congress is held in the Kazakh capital every three years, functioning as a permanent international interfaith platform for dialogue between religions.

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The Senate of Kazakhstan approves an agreement with France on fighting climate change

Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with France concerning issues related to climate change. This agreement helps Kazakhstan to contribute to the fight against climate change, and provides for joint efforts to implement major projects in the field of renewable energy and sustainable development in the country. One of the biggest initiatives envisaged under this agreement is the Mirny project. Its main goal is to create a hybrid power plant with a total capacity of 1 GW, which will operate using wind energy. This power plant is planned to be located in the Zhambyl region, close to the town of Mirny. This project will be vital in developing energy sources that do not harm the environment.