BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week. KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhs Won’t Be Silenced on China’s Internment Camps Activists in Kazakhstan speak out for ethnic Kazakhs imprisoned in Xinjiang, despite the fact that the government in Astana doesn’t like it for fear of possibly spoiling relations with China March 4 — “Gulzira Auelkhankyzy remembers little about the January day when she was released from Xinjiang’s vast network of re-education camps. Auelkhankyzy, an ethnically Kazakh Chinese citizen, spent 15 months inside an internment camp, where she was regularly interrogated, forced to give blood, and required to learn Chinese and Communist Party songs. Auelkhankyzy was then coerced into signing a contract and sent to a “black factory” in October 2018, where she worked long hours sewing gloves for a measly wage.” READ MORE: https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/03/04/961387-concentrationcamps-china-xinjiang-internment-kazakh-muslim/ Kazakhstan wants to tap Malaysia’s Halal expertise Kazakhstan and Malaysia expand cooperation in the fields of Islamic finance, agriculture, halal industry, e-commerce, healthcare, and information security March 5 — “Kazakhstan aims to develop its halal industry ecosystem with focus on foods and beverages and Islamic finance while leveraging on Malaysia’s halal industry development experience. Embassy of Kazakhstan in Malaysia counsellor Dr Serik Amirov said it was keen to expand cooperation with Malaysia in e-commerce, healthcare, cyber security and renewable energy sectors.” READ MORE: https://www.salaamgateway.com/en/story/kazakhstan_wants_to_tap_malaysias_halal_expertise-SALAAM06032019032001/ Kazakhstan Vows To Help Revive Afghanistan’s Economy Kazakhstan has provided $75 million in financial aid to Kabul since 2001 March 5 — “Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov said that Central Asia’s largest economy is ready to help Afghanistan rebuild after years of conflict and turmoil. “As of today, this is a new kind of solution and transition from a forceful approach for conflict resolution to a peaceful one – an economization,” the minister said on Monday while addressing the parliament’s meeting, according to reports by Zakon.” READ MORE: https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/kazakhstan-vows-to-help-revive-afghanistans-economy-2019-3-5-4/ EU-Kazakhstan relations evolving cooperatively, providing a model for region, says European envoy The European Union envoy in Astana on EU-Kazakhstan relations March 7 — “The European...
