ASHGABAT (TCA) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev plans to travel to Turkmenistan later this month amid persistent rumors that the Central Asian nation’s autocratic leader has died, RFE/RL reported.

Medvedev will visit Turkmenistan on August 11-12 to take part in the first Caspian Economic Forum, his press service said in a statement.

Medvedev is scheduled to meet with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov during his trip to discuss bilateral issues, the statement said.

Berdymukhammedov’s failure to appear in public since July 5, not even during a July 6 visit to the capital, Ashgabat, by EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini, has fueled speculation about the state of his health.

Turkmen authorities have repeatedly said the president is on vacation until August 15 even though the long-planned forum starts earlier.

On July 21, rumors on social media and unconfirmed reports by Russian news outlets claimed Berdymukhammedov had died.

Diplomats at Turkmen embassies abroad have rejected the rumors of the president’s death as “absolute lies”.

Turkmen state TV showed video footage of Berdymukhammedov at a construction site in the capital, Ashgabat, stating that it was recorded on July 24.

According to Chronicles of Turkmenistan independent foreign-based news website, Berdymukhammedov’s absence in public was due to the critical condition of his mother, Ogulabat Berdymukhammedova, who, according to reports as of 21 July, had been undergoing a course of medical treatment in Germany.

Turkmenistan is described by rights groups as having one of the most closed societies and oppressive governments in the world.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s delegation visited Tokyo on August 1-2, where it had separate meetings with heads of Japanese companies and organizations, such as Sumitomo, Marubeni, Nippon Express, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Chiyoda Technol, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sojitz, Terra Drone, JOGMEC, and Nikke Group, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported.

The parties discussed ongoing and perspective joint projects in Kazakhstan in such industries as engineering, energy, agriculture, logistics, petrochemicals, light industry, robotics and ICT. The Kazakh side informed the Japanese companies on measures to improve the investment climate and expanding opportunities for investors in Kazakhstan.

Japanese investors expressed interest in investing in Kazakhstan’s economy, as well as informed about the progress of current investment projects in Kazakhstan. The world’s fourth largest logistics company, Nippon Express, announced the official opening of its Central Asian office in Kazakhstan in August. Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., which has been operating in Kazakhstan since 2004, is working on creation of a regional center for repair and maintenance services for mining equipment. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) intends to continue cooperation in the development of rare earth metal processing technologies. The management of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the largest Japanese bank, suggested using a credit line opened jointly with Kazakhstan’s Baiterek National Holding as actively as possible.

In addition, on August 2, Deputy Foreign Minister Ermek Kosherbayev, who led Kazakhstan’s delegation, met with Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada. They discussed economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Japan.

The Japanese side expressed readiness to support Kazakhstan’s initiatives to intensify investment cooperation.

The Kazakh delegation included representatives of the Industrial Development and Industrial Safety Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kazakh Invest national investment promotion company.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline delivered 5.59 million tons of crude oil to China in the first half of this year, Xinhua news agency reported with reference to PetroChina West Pipeline Company.

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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — A new facility for beef production and processing will be built in Kazakhstan’s northern Kostanay region by 2020. Canadian company SureGoodFoods together with Latvian Bridge Holding will implement the project worth $30 million with support of Kazakh Invest national investment promotion company.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — An automatic agrometeorology station of pilot agrometeorological network has been launched in Tursunzoda district of Tajikistan with the support of the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in close collaboration with the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Tajik Committee for Environmental Protection, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan said.

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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Industry Development Fund of Kazakhstan will be created under the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. The Fund will allow businesses to develop capital-intensive projects in mechanical engineering, the Chairman of the Union of Machine Builders of Kazakhstan Meiram Pshembayev said at a press conference on August 1.

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