Bilateral Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan and U.S. Focus on Strengthening Trade and Investment Cooperation

On 14 June, in Astana, Minister of Trade of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliev met U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to discuss key areas of cooperation between the two countries. As reported by the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, the USA is among Kazakhstan’s ten largest trading partners. With bilateral trade turnover demonstrating a steady growth, Kazakhstan is ready to increase non-resource exports of 90 commodities worth over $770 million to the U.S. During the meeting, Kazakhstan's trade minister mooted cancelling the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which restricts trade relations between the two countries, and expressed hope for an imminent decision by the U.S. Congress on the issue. “We count on the soonest positive outcome of the work on the cancellation of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which will give a new impetus to the development of trade and economic relations between our countries,” said Shakkaliev. He also noted the important role of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) of the United States in strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations. For its part, Kazakhstan is ready to undertake necessary work to resume the application of the USA GSP. Trade Representative Katherine Tai spoke optimistically on the development of trade relations and strengthening economic ties between the United States and Kazakhstan. After remarking that the extension of the USA GSP program will be considered by the US Congress next year, she confirmed her readiness to assist Kazakhstan in this matter.

Foreign Investment Foreign Trade Bilateral Cooperation Strategic Partnership business and economy

Uzbekistan and Turkey Deepen Strategic Partnership

On 6 June, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a Joint Declaration in Ankara on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. During the third meeting of the Uzbek-Turkish High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, chaired by the presidents, Mirziyoyev emphasized that the establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council “opened a new page in the history of Uzbek-Turkish relations and gave a powerful impetus to the further development of partnership in all areas.” It was stated that in recent years, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkey has increased 1.5-fold, the number of joint ventures has doubled, and Turkish investments in the Uzbek economy has grown 2.5-fold. Ninety flights operate weekly between the countries’ major cities and the number of Turkish tourists in Uzbekistan has tripled. The two countries now aim to increase the volume of bilateral trade turnover to five billion dollars in the shortest possible time. Leading Turkish companies as Cengiz Holding, Aksa Energy, Çalık Holding, Akay Inşaat, Anadolu Group, Özgüven, and Eczacıbaşı Holding are currently implementing over 100 projects in Uzbekistan and during President Mirziyoyev’s visit, a portfolio of new investment projects worth $10 billion was formed. The agenda focused on strengthening industrial cooperation, deepening the localization of production of goods with high added value, and joint entry into the markets of third countries. Emphasis was also placed on the need to reduce customs tariffs within the framework of the Agreement on Preferential Trade and on the introduction of a trade mission of Uzbekistan in Istanbul. The importance of cooperation in increasing the transport and logistics potential of the two countries, including effective harnessing of opportunities of the Middle Corridor, was discussed. In recognition of his role in their countries’ allegiance, President Erdogan awarded President Mirziyoyev with the Order of the Republic; the highest state order awarded to foreign nationals by the President of Turkey. Thanking the president, Mirziyoyev announced: “It is a great honor for me to receive such a high award from the Republic of Turkey on the day of signing the Declaration on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries. This award is a symbol of thousands of years of fraternal ties between our peoples, confidential dialogue at the highest level, as well as rapidly developing multifaceted bilateral relations.”

U.S. business and economy Strategic Partnership Bilateral Cooperation

Kazakhstan and United States Strategic Partnership

On 31 May, Kazakhstan First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu attended the sixth meeting of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue (ESPD) between Kazakhstan and the United States in Washington, According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, summaries were provided on recent collaborative initiatives and views on current bilateral and regional issues were synchronized. Plans were outlined for further development and enhancement of the countries’ strategic partnership, with a special emphasis on aspects of political and economic cooperation, as well as the human dimension. The participants also discussed projected outcomes of the meeting in the U.S in March, between Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Rakhmetullin drew attention to the alignment of the political and democratic transformations declared by President Tokayev on the main issues on the bilateral agenda. He then highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure projects and transportation routes as key elements of bilateral trade and economic interaction. The parties also discussed cooperation in the fields of energy and critical minerals. The American side praised the steady progress of the bilateral partnership, with reference to projects launched following the C5+1 Presidential Summit in September 2023. During their visit, the Kazakh delegation also attended separate meetings with leaders of U.S. Administration, the State Department, the Office of the Trade, and other relevant U.S. agencies. At a round table event with representatives of American civil society, the Kazakh side gave presentations on innovations in national legislation on the protection of human rights in the country. The meeting concluded with an agreement to further Kazakhstan – U.S. Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue at a meeting scheduled for 2025 in Astana.

Bilateral Relations Bilateral Cooperation Ethnicity

Focus on Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan

On 21 May, Astana hosted the 20th meeting of the Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Commission for the Affairs of Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan, co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities, Member of the Bundestag, Natalie Pawlik. Representatives of the two countries’ ministries and organizations, including the Wiedergeburt (Rebirth) foundation also participated. The agenda focused on cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany to support the cultural, linguistic, and national identity of Kazakh Germans, as well as the implementation of joint projects in science, education, and culture. The parties reiterated their mutual interest in expanding partnerships within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission and strengthening the “living bridge” connecting Kazakhstan and Germany. During World War II, Stalin's henchman, Lavrentiy Beria supervized the mass deportation of the Volga Germans, Chechens, Ingush, Pontic Greeks, Crimean Tatars, Balkars and the Karachays, largely to Central Asia. With the crowded wagons stopping only to bury the dead in the snow, approximately 30% perished. According to statistics, 226,000 ethnic Germans reside in Kazakhstan, today, whilst some one million Germans have moved from Kazakhstan to their ancestral homeland. Emphasizing the importance of Kazakhstan’s multi-ethnic population in the successful development of the country, Vassilenko stated that: “Thousands of kilometers separating our countries do not hinder the development and deepening of Kazakh-German relations, as well as the promotion of rapprochement of our peoples. By virtue of history, Kazakhstan has a large German diaspora, while many former citizens of Kazakhstan have resettled in Germany.” Ethnic Germans are represented in all spheres of life in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh-German Center in Astana, the Kazakh-German University in Almaty, the Kazakh-German Institute of Sustainable Engineering in Aktau, the German Drama Theatre, as well as the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper play significant roles in strengthening cultural and humanitarian interaction between Kazakhstan and Germany. Natalie Pawlik welcomed the dynamically developing bilateral cooperation and emphasized that Germany regards Kazakhstan as a key partner in its relations with Central Asia. In her commendation of assistance provided by the German Federal Government to the Germans of Kazakhstan, she mentioned that the study of the German language in Kazakhstan can not only contribute to the preservation of the ethnic Germans’ national identity but prove beneficial to professionals engaging in joint investment projects.

Bilateral Cooperation Water Management

Kazakhstan Looks to Israel’s Innovative Water Technologies

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Israel, Daulet Yemberdiyev has visited the Israeli companies Mekorot, Odis, and BlueGen Water to see Israel’s best practices in the field of water security and management. These companies are at the forefront of Israel’s environmental infrastructure and offer innovative solutions in water management, wastewater treatment and recycling, and the development of desalination systems and water-saving technologies. The Israeli companies showed the Kazakh diplomat their innovative projects and demonstrated exclusive solutions in the field of water management. As a result of the meetings, the parties agreed on further joint research initiatives and organizing visits of representatives of the Israeli water companies to the regions of Kazakhstan. Ambassador Yemberdiyev emphasized that Kazakhstan prioritizes water conservation projects to ensure sustainable development and the environmental safety of the country.

Foreign Investment Bilateral Cooperation business and economy Education

Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia to Revive Bilateral Cooperation

On 15 May, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to Bishkek to engage in talks with President Sadyr Japarov. The agenda focused on the current state of the countries’ bilateral cooperation and the potential for further development in sectors including agriculture, tourism, energy, renewable energy sources, mining, infrastructure, information technology, and the halal industry. The meeting concluded with the signing of a ‘Joint Statement on the comprehensive enhancement of cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and Malaysia’, described by President Japarov as a road map for the further development of Kyrgyz-Malaysian relations. At a meeting later in the day with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov emphasized the importance of joint efforts in the implementation of a more comprehensive business partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia. In this regard, Akylbek Japarov proposed the immediate revival of the Special Kyrgyz-Malaysian Joint Commission, which created in 1997, had proved an effective means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries. In addition, he invited Malaysian investors to collaborate in projects concerning renewable energy sources, mining, the halal industry, and education, as well as exchanging experience in the field of Islamic finance. The two countries also opened negotiations for the introduction of direct flights between Bishkek and Kuala Lumpur. In response to the meeting, the Prime Minister of Malaysia emphasized his readiness to develop and strengthen the high potential of bilateral cooperation across the board. Towards this goal, he spoke of Malaysia’s interest in establishing cooperation in the banking sector and opening a bank in Kyrgyzstan, and with reference to education, said that his government was considering reducing the fees for Kyrgyz students from low-income families wishing to study in his country.