Page 599 – The Times Of Central Asia

23 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Featurees

Poll Shows Over Half of Kazakhstanis Support Proposed Nuclear Plant

September 30, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies has announced the results of a telephone survey concerning the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.

In his address to the nation on September 1, 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the economic and political importance of the development of nuclear energy, and proposed resolving the issue of building the country’s first nuclear power plant through a nationwide referendum. In June 2024, Tokayev announced that the referendum on building a nuclear power plant would be held this fall, adding that the Cabinet of Ministers would set the exact date.

The survey was conducted from August 7 to August 18 this year, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older from Kazakhstan’s 17 regions and the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.

Over half of respondents (53.1%) supported building a nuclear power plant, agreeing that it will help solve the problem of electricity shortages by 2030.

32.5% of the respondents oppose the construction of nuclear power plants, mainly because they fear possible accidents and their environmental consequences.

14.4% were uncertain of their stance.

During the survey, 42.6% of the respondents expressed a firm intention to participate in a referendum on the issue of nuclear power plant construction, 16.4% said they are likely to participate, 25.3% do not plan to take part, 8.9% are unlikely to participate, and 6.8% are unsure.
The Ministry of Energy estimates the cost of building a nuclear power plant at $10-12 billion.

Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said that the nuclear power plant would be built by a foreign company that wins the tender — providing that the issue is approved in the referendum. In addition to companies from China, Russia, France, and South Korea, the ministry is considering companies from the United States and Japan as potential bidders.

The proposed location of the nuclear power plant is the village of Ulken in the Karaganda region.

23 Aug 2024

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

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan Sign Allied Relations Treaty

August 23, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

A treaty on allied relations between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan was signed on August 22 during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Tajikistan and talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe.

Noting its significance, Rahmon stated that the treaty opens a new page in the history of Kazakh-Tajik cooperation and will become a solid foundation for strategic partnership between the two nations.

President Tokayev, in turn, emphasized that “there are no problematic issues between our countries” and announced plans to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion.

Over the past five years, the annual trade volume between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan has more than doubled, exceeding $1 billion.

Referencing Kazakhstan’s readiness to increase supplies to Tajikistan of some 85 commodities valued at $200 million, Tokayev announced: “We agreed to expand the range of goods supplied, systematically remove barriers that hinder trade and economic cooperation between our countries, and strengthen partnership in the transport and logistics sector. There is a serious potential for increasing bilateral trade in the agro-industrial sector. In the first six months of this year, agricultural trade between our countries increased by 12%, amounting to almost $300 million.”

Tokayev also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the water sector: “We agreed to continue the coordinated work on the rational use of resources of transboundary rivers of Central Asia. Kazakhstan is grateful to the Tajik side for timely decisions related to fulfilling obligations in the water and energy sector, particularly on [irrigation] water supplies to Kazakhstan.”

During the talks, it was stated that over the past five years, Kazakhstan has invested $700 million in Tajikistan’s economy. Today, more than 80 percent of Tajikistan’s fruit and vegetable exports go to Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan imports large amounts Kazakh wheat, flour, and other grain products.

On August 21, the eve of Tokayev’s visit, Dushanbe hosted a Kazakh-Tajik business forum, during which the parties signed 14 commercial contracts and cooperation agreements worth $1.2 billion.

23 Aug 2024

Education, Central Asia, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan Supports Japanese Language Exam

August 23, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The official website of the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan reports that Ashgabat will host the second Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) on December 1, 2024, with applications accepted from 26-30 August.

JLPT, the most comprehensive exam in the Japanese language in both Japan and abroad to assess the skills of foreign citizens, comprises five levels – from N1-N5- and the cost of participation varies according to grade.

In 2022, the Dovletmamed Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages signed a contract with the Government of Japan to implement the “Japanese Language Teaching Equipment Project Grant.”

The project includes re-equipping three university classrooms to provide language laboratories, facilities for simultaneous translation, and rooms designated for Japanese language teachers.

23 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan

New Species of Dinosaur Discovered in Kyrgyzstan

October 8, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

German and Kyrgyz palaeontologists have discovered the remains of a previously unknown species of predatory dinosaur in the vicinity of the town of Tash-Kumyr.

Named Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus after the mythological bird Alpkarakush from the great Kyrgyz epic ‘Manas’, it is the first theropod to be found on Kyrgyz territory.

The dinosaur’s remains, found in the Balaban-Sai Formation, date to the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago.

Remarkably intact, the skeleton including the skull and vertebrae, has enabled the team to gauge its appearance.

Although similar to members of the Metriacanthosauridae family and close to large predators of East Asia, the unusual “eyebrow” on the skull — which according to scientists indicates the presence of a horn — makes the Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus unique among other theropods.

As such, the discovery marks a significant step in our understanding of both the biogeography of theropods and the evolution of Central Asia.

In due course, the reconstruction of the dinosaur’s skeleton will take pride of place in the National History Museum in Bishkek.

22 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan Releases Foreign Trade Data For 2024 So Far

August 22, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

The Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan has presented a report on the country’s foreign trade turnover in January-July 2024.

According to the report, during this period, the country’s foreign trade turnover (FTT) reached $36.8 billion and increased by $1.9 billion, or 5.3%, compared to January 2023. The volume of exports amounted to $14,786 million, which decreased by 1.1% compared to last year; imports increased by 10.1% and amounted to $22,049 million.

Kazakhstan became one of Uzbekistan’s largest foreign economic partners after China and Russia during this period. This may be due to a common border, trade in the CIS free trade area, and the recent liberalization of mutual economic relations.

Uzbekistan has trade relations with 187 countries worldwide. A significant share of FTT was recorded in the PRC (18.6%), Russia (18.5%), Kazakhstan (6.2%), Turkey (4.6%), and South Korea (3.2%).

From January to July 2024, the share of the CIS countries in the foreign trade turnover was 35.3%, which increased by 3.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2023. The total cost of FTT with these countries was $13,020.8 million. Exports reached $4,940.3 million, while imports amounted to $8,080.5 million.

Uzbekistan’s FTT with the Eurasian Economic Union member states amounted to $9,913.1 million. The export volume reached $3,230.5 million, and the import volume reached $6,682.5 million.

22 Aug 2024

Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakhstan Summons Belarusian Ambassador After Lukashenko’s Criticism

August 23, 2024
By Stephen M. Bland

In a significant development, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Belarusian Ambassador in response to critical remarks made by Belarusian President, Aleksandr Lukashenko. This incident highlights underlying tensions between Kazakhstan and Belarus – two nations with a shared historical backdrop and intricate political ties – and are emblematic of wider diplomatic rifts across the post-Soviet landscape.

Kazakhstan and Belarus have long enjoyed a multifaceted relationship which dates back to their time within the Soviet Union. Both are members of several regional organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which aim to foster economic and political cooperation among former Soviet republics. Kazakhstan ranks second in terms of foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus within the CIS countries, with exports to Belarus totaling $153.07 million in 2023.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan and Belarus have navigated their transition to sovereign states with varying degrees of success. After brutally crushing a series of mass demonstrations in 2020-21, Lukashenko’s Belarus has drawn ever closer to its patrons in the Kremlin. Prior to suppressing these protests following what were widely deemed to be rigged elections, Lukashenko was perhaps best known in the popular Western consciousness for his suggestion that Covid could be cured by riding a tractor and drinking vodka.

In sharp contrast, in recent years, following the demise of long-standing former-President Nazarbayev and his clique, Kazakhstan has followed a very different trajectory, seeking to rein in corruption, guarantee the rule of law, and adopting a multi-vector approach to its foreign policy as its global standing rises.

In this latest incident, the diplomatic strain was triggered by President Lukashenko’s public criticism of Kazakhstan. During an interview with Russian state television, Lukashenko stated that: “We are not starting to cheat like some post-Soviet states. They want to take something from Russia, but give nothing in return… It won’t work that way… The time is not far away when you will come to the same Russia and ask for support and help. There is no one else to ask… Something happened in Kazakhstan – who was asked? China, India and Pakistan are nearby… No. Here, ‘Putin, Lukashenko – help!’ And we [CSTO troops] were transferred there.”

In a statement released following a meeting between Belarusian Ambassador Pavel Utyupin and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, Kazakhstan expressed concern over Lukashenko’s statement and offered up a rebuke: “Kazakhstan pursues a balanced and peaceful foreign policy in accordance with the UN Charter and the fundamental norms of international law,” the statement reads. “Our country is firmly convinced that all disagreements between states should be resolved by political and diplomatic means. In the current geopolitical conditions, the foreign policy course of the country developed by the head of state has proven its effectiveness.”

The summoning of the ambassador is an oft-used diplomatic tool in addressing grievances, whilst also opening a channel for dialogue and resolution. As members of the EAEU, both countries benefit from mutual trade agreements, and prolonged diplomatic discord could strain these ties. Kazakhstan is not alone in being irked by Lukashenko’s latest outburst, however. In the same interview, Lukashenko stated: “Who needs Armenians? Nobody. Let them develop their economy and rely on their own resources. What is France? Who is [French President Emmanuel] Macron? Tomorrow, when Macron is gone, everybody will forget about the Armenians.”

France has a large Armenian diaspora and is a strident supporter of Armenia, which has been drawing closer to the West. Following Lukashenko’s interview, the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan was pelted with eggs, with the crowd calling for the Belarusian Ambassador to leave the country.