Bilateral Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Bilateral Cooperation

Kazakhstan and Italy Forge a New Strategic Nexus

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Kazakhstan marks a pivotal moment in the deepening relationship between the two nations. This diplomatic mission comes on the heels of historical ties reinforced by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2022 visit to the Central Asian nation, where he met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Benedict’s trip was a testament to Kazakhstan’s role in promoting interfaith dialogue and global peace, a legacy that continues to shape its international relationships. Now, with a new American Pope at the helm of the Vatican, Meloni has renewed Italy’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Kazakhstan. Her meeting with Tokayev and participation in the C5+Italy Summit underline her focus on fostering collaboration in energy diversification, regional stability, and economic growth. The terms for Meloni’s arrival in Astana were set by Kazakhstan’s previous engagements with Italy, including President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Rome in early 2024 and his meeting with Meloni in Abu Dhabi in January 2025. Those substantive bilateral talks set the bilateral agenda in the joint context of Italian active Eurasian diplomacy and Kazakhstan’s own strategic vision. Meloni’s direct discussions with Tokayev focused on deepening bilateral diplomatic and economic ties; expanding cooperation in energy, trade, and defense; and discussing regional security and joint training programs. As she put it prior to departing Italy, “This visit confirms the strategic value of our collaboration and the excellent level of relations between our nations.” Kazakhstan’s geography, resource wealth, and evolving political posture since independence over a third of a century have also enabled it to craft a nuanced foreign policy balancing traditional ties with Russia and China against emerging alignments with Europe and beyond. Italy’s diplomacy, underpinned by proactive outreach and sustained by major trade and investment flows, has become Kazakhstan’s principal EU partner and third-largest global trading counterpart. Meloni’s engagement with Kazakhstan underscores her broader strategic vision of positioning Italy as a pivotal player in the evolving geopolitical landscape. Central to this ambition is her ability to connect Italy’s foreign policy with global power structures, including her relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, a bond that has bolstered both her personal stature and Italy’s diplomatic leverage. This alignment, rooted in shared ideologies of nationalism and sovereignty, allows Italy to project itself as a transatlantic bridge linking Europe, the United States, and strategically critical regions like Central Asia. Beyond energy and trade, Italy’s approach aims to institutionalize its presence in the region, as demonstrated by the simultaneous hosting of the Central Asia–Italy Summit, which builds on the “5+1” dialogue launched in 2019 and its 2024 iteration at the foreign-ministerial level. Convening this summit at the head-of-government/head-of-state level in Astana subtly underscores Kazakhstan’s linchpin role in regional coordination and Italy’s capacity to frame its engagement as a multilateral and strategic enterprise. Meloni’s ambitions extend to securing Italy’s role in stabilizing ties with Central Asia and former Soviet states. For instance, strengthening relationships with energy-rich nations like Kazakhstan underpins her focus on energy diversification, critical for reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian gas while...

Healthcare

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Strengthen Cooperation on Cancer Treatment and Child Health

At the high-level conference, “Dialogue for Children: Central Asia and UNICEF,” held recently in Tashkent, the health ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan met to expand bilateral cooperation in healthcare. Kazakhstan’s Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova and her Uzbek counterpart Asilbek Khudayarov discussed a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of medical services in both countries. According to the Uzbek Health Ministry, the discussions focused on joint research projects, the exchange of medical expertise, and collaboration within the coalition of countries supporting primary healthcare. The two sides also considered conducting environmental studies in the Aral Sea region to assess the health impacts of local ecological conditions. Focus on Pediatric Health and Cancer Treatment Children’s health emerged as a central theme in the talks. Kazakhstan proposed establishing an international academic hub for childhood cancer and offered to take the lead on the initiative. Minister Alnazarova outlined Kazakhstan’s use of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods for pediatric cancer, including immunohistochemistry, immunophenotyping, tumor marker detection, high-dose chemotherapy for bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and organ-preserving surgeries. She also announced that a new Proton Therapy Center will open in Astana this October. The center is expected to treat over 800 patients annually and will offer radioiodine therapy for children from across Central Asia. Kazakhstan also proposed creating two additional international hubs: one for adult oncology and oncohematology, and another for pediatric heart surgery at the UMC Heart Center. The heart surgery hub would be open to patients from Uzbekistan, including children from Karakalpakstan. Alnazarova noted that several areas of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system now meet international standards, with hospitals adopting globally recognized technologies and practices. Expanding Bilateral Healthcare Ties To deepen bilateral engagement, the two ministers agreed to hold “Kazakhstan Medicine Days” in Uzbekistan in 2025, followed by “Uzbekistan Medicine Days” in Kazakhstan in 2026. They also endorsed the creation of an international healthcare hub to promote cross-border collaboration. In a related development, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, announced in March that the country is developing a new anti-cancer drug. Phase II clinical trials, completed last year, showed promising results, including an average tumor size reduction of 30%. The drug is expected to be registered and released to the market by the end of 2024.

Diplomacy

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Hold Talks on Consular Cooperation and Citizen Rights

Officials from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan met in Dushanbe on May 27 to discuss consular cooperation and the protection of citizen rights, according to the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The consultations brought together delegations from both countries’ foreign ministries. The Tajik delegation was led by Bahodur Safarzoda, Head of the Main Consular Department, while the Kyrgyz side was headed by Seitek Zhumakadyr uulu, Director of the Consular Service Department. Discussions focused on improving bilateral cooperation, including measures to protect the rights of citizens living or traveling in each other’s countries, streamlining border-crossing procedures, and enhancing the efficiency of consular services. The meeting was part of broader efforts to strengthen trust and cooperation between the two neighboring countries. In March, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed a landmark agreement in Bishkek to resolve the long-standing dispute over the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. Under the terms of that agreement, both national parliaments must ratify the deal before it becomes official. If approved, the final step will be the formal exchange of ratification documents, expected to occur on March 31 during a summit in the Fergana Valley. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is also expected to attend. Only after this exchange will the physical demarcation of the border begin.

Military Defense

Russia Warns of Rising Security Threats in Central Asia During CSTO Talks in Bishkek

Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ruslan Mukambetov met with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in Bishkek to discuss the future of bilateral military cooperation. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Strategic Partnership Program in the Military Field extending through 2030. Belousov's visit comes ahead of the annual meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), also taking place in the Kyrgyz capital. As part of the lead-up to the event, the two ministers held direct bilateral talks. Speaking at the meeting, Belousov stated that CSTO member states are “living in conditions of global instability” and must remain vigilant. “Both within the CSTO and in our bilateral relations, we must treat the emerging threats with the utmost care. And there are more and more of them,” he said. Belousov identified radical groups operating in Afghanistan as the primary security threat in Central Asia, citing Russian intelligence estimates that place their numbers at over 15,000 fighters. He also pointed to growing instability in the Middle East, which, according to Russian officials, has led to an increase in foreign fighters entering the region. Mukambetov, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the depth of military cooperation with Russia and highlighted continued collaboration across all defense sectors. The ministers discussed both current and prospective issues related to military and military-technical cooperation. Despite Moscow’s ongoing warnings about extremist threats in the region, some experts argue that Russia may be inflating the scale of the danger. The narrative of a looming Islamic threat remains a consistent theme in Russian security rhetoric. In a potentially contradictory move, the Russian Supreme Court recently lifted its long-standing ban on the Taliban movement. Nevertheless, Russian officials continue to present information on Afghan-based terrorist threats to their CSTO allies. The Kremlin has also voiced concerns about growing Western influence in Central Asia. According to reports, Russian officials believe Western countries have gained excessive sway in the region, a development Moscow sees as a strategic challenge.

Russia

Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund Approves New Projects for 2025

The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) has approved a $150 million budget to support Kyrgyzstan’s economy in 2025, with six new projects already greenlit for more than $95 million in financing. According to Artem Novikov, Chairman of the RKDF Board, the newly approved initiatives include industrial cooperation with the national railway company, Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, support for the domestic sugar industry, and the implementation of new trade financing mechanisms to enhance trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov, underscored the strategic role of the RKDF, calling it a key tool in the country’s economic development. “The RKDF remains Kyrgyzstan’s key partner in financing strategically important projects,” he said. Sydykov also highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s recent industrial growth. In 2024, the country opened 102 new industrial enterprises, with plans to launch an additional 128 facilities this year. The RKDF was established in 2014 by the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Russia to promote bilateral economic cooperation, modernize Kyrgyzstan’s economy, and capitalize on opportunities offered by regional integration within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. In a related development, the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund (AKDF) recently approved financing for two projects in Kyrgyzstan: the construction of a 9 MW small hydroelectric power plant and a modern sewing factory expected to create 300 jobs.

Construction

Afghanistan Delivers White Marble to Uzbekistan for Imam Bukhari Complex

Afghanistan has delivered 16 truckloads of white marble from Herat to Uzbekistan for use in the construction of the Imam Bukhari complex in Samarkand, according to the Surkhandarya regional administration. The marble will contribute to the ongoing development of the religious and cultural site dedicated to the revered Islamic scholar. The marble was officially transferred at the Termez International Trade Center during a meeting between Uzbek and Afghan officials. According to Uzbekistan’s state news agency UzA, the first shipment comprises 324 boxes of rare white marble, with each slab measuring 3.5 to 4 centimeters thick. Expanding Bilateral Relations Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have been expanding bilateral relations in recent years. In March, Uzbekistan sent nearly 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including flour, pasta, oil, sugar, and other essential supplies. Looking ahead, the two nations aim to boost annual trade to $3 billion. In 2023, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan totaled $866 million.