Bilateral Relations - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan and CNPC to Expand Cooperation

The partnership between Kazakhstan and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is set to broaden, with plans to implement joint projects in the oil and gas industry. This information was shared during a meeting held via videoconference on December 28th between Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister, Roman Sklyar, and CNPC President, Hou Qijun. Sklyar highlighted the CNPC as a long-standing strategic and investment partner of Kazakhstan. In response, Qijun expressed the corporation's commitment to expanding its cooperation with Kazakhstan, driven by the agreements made by the leaders of both countries. As part of this renewed alliance, the Kazakh Government is actively working on specific projects within the Framework Agreement on expanding strategic cooperation in the energy sector. This agreement was signed during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to China earlier this year. Current projects under discussion include expanding the production capacity of the Shymkent Refinery in south Kazakhstan, constructing the second line of the Beineu-Bozoy-Shymkent gas pipeline, and conducting joint geological exploration in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia on Path to Strategic Partnership

Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia on Path to Strategic Partnership On December 20th, the sixth meeting of the Kazakh-Saudi Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) was held in Riyadh. The co-chairs of the Commission are Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, and Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih. As part of the IGC meeting, a Kazakh-Saudi investment round table was organized with the participation of over a hundred business representatives from the two countries. Opening the event, Foreign Minister Nurtleu noted the strategic importance of intensifying cooperation between the public and private sectors of the two countries. The minister drew attention to the enormous potential of the Saudi market for strengthening trade and economic relations, as well as the unlimited prospects for expanding investment partnerships. Nurtleu stated that both countries have significant opportunities to further deepen contacts in such sectors as green energy, food security, transport and logistics, mining, petrochemicals, agriculture, finance, and tourism. Saudi co-chairman of the IGC, Khalid Al-Falih drew attention to the interest of the Kingdom’s leadership in strengthening a diverse array of ties with Kazakhstan, which is considered the leader of the Central Asian region. “Kazakhstan is the largest country with a vast territory, rich natural resources and human capital. It is extremely important for us today to bring relations with your country to the most serious level, which involves a confidential political dialogue, mutually beneficial trade and economic ties, as well as large-scale investments in your economy,” said the Saudi minister. The event also featured speeches from the heads of over thirty large companies in the Kingdom, including such giants as Saudi Aramco and ACWA Power. The latter is already starting to implement renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan. The parties agreed to open a joint innovation hub early next year, which will allow startup projects in Kazakhstan to gain access to the markets of the Middle East and North Africa, and will help promote the brand of Kazakhstan as an IT country.

Iran Cancels Visa Requirement for Citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Iran has lifted visa requirements for visitors from 33 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia, in an attempt to attract visitors from across the globe and boost its sanctions-hit economy, Iranian news agencies report. Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami, said the cancellation of the visa requirements was approved in a government meeting last week. “The government intends to open the country's doors to the world,” Zarghami told reporters after a cabinet meeting on December 13th. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Iran, the number of foreign visitors in Iran reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year, which ends in March 2024, representing a 50%increase compared to the same period last year. The ministry expects six million foreign tourists to visit the country by the end of the year.

UN Declares 2026 as International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development on Kazakhstan’s Initiative

On December 19th, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan announced that the United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution declaring 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. This proposal was first introduced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in 2020. Kazakhstan proposed the resolution in collaboration with several like-minded countries from various regions, including Armenia, Bolivia, Germany, Kenya, and Kiribati. In total, 54 UN member states joined the co-sponsorship of the document. The activities planned throughout the International Year are expected to significantly boost volunteer movements at national, regional, and global levels. They aim to further strengthen international cooperation on volunteering and shape key directions for future development. President Tokayev places significant emphasis on the development of volunteering in Kazakhstan, considering it a crucial component in building a "Just Kazakhstan". According to the President, volunteers play an exceptional role in strengthening a reliable partnership between the state and society. In line with the Head of State's initiative, 2020 was declared as the Year of the Volunteer in Kazakhstan, and a Road Map for the Development of Volunteering in Kazakhstan for 2021-2023 was adopted. As a result of these measures, the number of volunteers in the country has surged to 200,000 people. Additionally, Kazakhstani youth serve as UN volunteers in several countries. On July 20-21, 2023, Astana hosted the International Volunteer Forum with the participation of the Head of State, senior UN representatives, and volunteers from over 30 countries. This event underscored Kazakhstan's significant role in the global volunteer movement.

President Japarov: Kyrgyzstan Should Provide Irrigation Water to Kazakhstan

A UN resolution obliges upstream countries, including Kyrgyzstan, to provide water to downstream states, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said on December 16th at the second People’s Kurultai (Congress) in Bishkek. Answering questions from the Kurultai delegates, the president said that the water problem would be solved through the construction of so-called ten-day and daily regulation pools. Such reservoirs will allow for the accumulation of water in winter and for it to be freely shared with neighbors downstream. The president said that Kyrgyzstan does not have a sufficient number of reservoirs, and, therefore, this year there was not enough water to supply to Kazakhstan. This past summer, the southern regions of Kazakhstan experienced a severe shortage of irrigation water for their fields. The construction of such reservoirs, the president explained, will meet the needs of Kyrgyzstan and, in addition, there will also be enough water to supply to downstream neighbors. The president also announced plans to build reservoirs. The reservoir construction program will last until 2027, he said.

Length of U.S. Visas for Kyrgyz Citizens Set to Increase

The duration of American visas for citizens of Kyrgyzstan is set to increase from five to ten years, marking a significant development reported by the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA. The Embassy disclosed that Baktybek Amanbayev, the head of the Kyrgyz diplomatic mission, conducted a meeting on December 13th with Brandon McNerney, the director of the Office of Visa Affairs at the Consular Bureau of the US Department of State. The primary agenda revolved around discussions aimed at enhancing visa relations between the two nations. During the meeting, Ambassador Amanbayev reiterated the appeal to expedite considerations for extending the validity period of tourist and business visas from five to ten years, alongside reducing consular fees for Kyrgyz Republic citizens. This plea, previously discussed with US authorities, was reinforced by Amanbayev during this encounter. Brandon McNerney provided an optimistic outlook, stating that the issue is in its final stages of evaluation within relevant US authorities, with a positive decision anticipated imminently. The American side pledged to officially notify the Kyrgyz authorities of their decision in the near future. Additionally, Amanbayev pressed for simplified visa acquisition processes for Kyrgyzstani students enrolled in US educational institutions. Moreover, he proposed exploring opportunities for legal employment of Kyrgyz citizens in sectors facing labor shortages within the United States. The American representatives agreed to delve into these matters during the annual bilateral consultations. This push for extended visa durations follows earlier discussions on the topic. Kyrgyzstan's parliamentary deputies Akylbek Tumonbayev, Balbak Tulobayev, Karim Khanjeza, and Emil Toktoshev engaged in talks with Ambassador Leslie Viguery regarding visa extensions to the United States. Ambassador Amanbayev also held discussions with John Pommersheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs, seeking to expedite this visa extension process. These concerted efforts signal a potential boon for Kyrgyz citizens aspiring to visit or reside in the United States, fostering closer bilateral ties between the two nations.