President Tokayev - The Times Of Central Asia

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Economic Cooperation

Tokayev’s U.S. Visit Advances Kazakhstan’s Economic Agenda

The visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the United States provided an opportunity for targeted negotiations with major international corporations and financial institutions, centered on long-term investment, production localization, and Kazakhstan’s integration into global value chains. One of the key outcomes was the signing of an investment agreement worth approximately $180 million between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Mars, Incorporated. The company plans to build a pet food production plant in the city of Alatau. The project will focus on the deep processing of agricultural raw materials and the production of high-value-added goods. Mars CEO Poul Weihrauch noted that the Kazakhstan facility will serve as a base for expanding the company’s presence in Central Asia and neighboring regions. A separate round of negotiations focused on healthcare. During talks with Ashmore Group, discussions centered on a proposal to build an international clinic in partnership with Ashmore Healthcare International and Samruk-Kazyna Invest, with the involvement of the Mount Sinai Health System as the operator. The initiative aligns with Kazakhstan’s strategy to develop medical infrastructure and medical tourism, as well as the Open Investment Partnership program targeting high-tech sectors of the economy. Aviation was another major component of the visit. At a meeting with Boeing executives, Tokayev confirmed the interest of Kazakh carriers Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and VietJet Qazaqstan in expanding cooperation. Air Astana expects to receive Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the second half of 2026, which could pave the way for the launch of direct flights between Kazakhstan and the U.S. SCAT, meanwhile, is considering both the acquisition of additional aircraft and the establishment of its first maintenance and repair center at Shymkent Airport in partnership with an American company. The visit concluded with negotiations involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Its CEO, Ben Black, said Washington views Kazakhstan as a key partner in Eurasia. The discussions focused on projects in the mining sector and the development of transport and transit infrastructure critical for regional and interregional trade. According to the World Investment Report 2025 (UNCTAD), Kazakhstan overwhelmingly dominates foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central Asia. In 2024, Kazakhstan’s inward FDI stock stood at about $151 billion, far exceeding Turkmenistan (about $45 billion), Uzbekistan (about $17 billion), and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (around $4 billion each). The negotiations in Washington point to Kazakhstan’s focus on building long-term institutional partnerships rather than pursuing isolated investment deals, a signal intended to reassure international investors about the stability and openness of the market. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tokayev also took part in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, where Kazakhstan signaled its willingness to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction and broader stabilization efforts, including potential financial support and participation in peacekeeping initiatives. This article forms part of The Times of Central Asia’s special coverage of Central Asia’s expanding role in U.S. critical minerals security.

Energy Policy

Tokayev Calls Nuclear Power a Correction of Kazakhstan’s “Historical Absurdity”

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has described Kazakhstan’s push to build nuclear power plants as a correction of a “historical absurdity”, namely, that a nation which ranks among the world’s top producers and exporters of uranium has yet to harness this resource for domestic electricity generation. In October 2024, a nationwide referendum showed broad public support for the development of nuclear energy. Following the vote, Tokayev announced plans to construct at least two nuclear power plants, with a third to follow. In June 2025, Russian state corporation Rosatom was selected to build the country’s first nuclear power plant near the village of Ulken, on the western shore of Lake Balkhash, about 400 kilometers northwest of Almaty. Contracts for the second and third plants were later signed with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). “The construction of several nuclear power plants is, on the one hand, a correction of the historical absurdity – to be a world leader in the production of uranium and not to build any nuclear power plants, on the other, it is the prestige of Kazakhstan,” Tokayev said in an interview with Turkistan newspaper, published on the official Akorda website. According to Tokayev, reliable electricity generation is essential for Kazakhstan’s transition to a new technological model of the economy. He emphasized that the development of supercomputers, data centers, and automated industrial systems requires substantial energy resources. “This is the reality of the new global technological order,” he stated. Tokayev has consistently argued that Kazakhstan must become a digital power, framing digitalization as a matter of national survival. He believes society is mentally prepared for innovation, citing the success of fintech companies and the expansion of digital government services. “We have good starting conditions and have made progress in the digitalization of public services, fintech, and several sectors of the economy. The ecosystem supporting IT startups is functioning effectively,” the president noted. He added that for continued progress, Kazakhstan requires stable, environmentally friendly, and high-capacity energy sources, needs best met by nuclear power. Tokayev also highlighted the importance of personnel in building a nuclear energy sector. He said the development of nuclear power will contribute to the emergence of a new class of technical intelligentsia, which could ultimately influence state policy. “Qualified specialists are needed to create modern energy sources. The head of NVIDIA, the world's largest company by market capitalization, predicts that in the near future, multimillionaires will include representatives of technical professions, the so-called ‘blue-collar workers’,” Tokayev said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan plans to train nuclear energy specialists abroad through the Bolashak state program.

Diplomacy

Tokayev, Mirziyoyev Have Telephone Conversations with Trump

According to Akorda, a phone conversation took place today between Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders spoke about their bilateral agenda and the current international situation, including in Ukraine. Tokayev confirmed his commitment to implementing the agreements reached during his visit to Washington in November of this year. He emphasized the complexity of resolving the war in Ukraine. Tokayev also invited Trump to visit Kazakhstan. Almost at the same time, Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social: "This morning, I had two wonderful phone conversations with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. We discussed the importance of establishing peace in ongoing conflicts, as well as expanding trade and cooperation between our countries. Relations with both countries are impressive. The United States will host the G20 summit next year, and we will invite both of these leaders to join us as guests at this very important event, which will take place in Miami!"

Water resources

Kazakhstan Proposes Creation of UN Water Agency to Tackle Global Resource Challenges

At a forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a specialized United Nations body dedicated to the rational use of water resources. In his address, Tokayev emphasized the urgent need for enhanced global coordination in managing water diplomacy, noting that the current UN framework lacks a dedicated agency focused solely on water-related issues. UN-Water currently functions as a coordination mechanism rather than a specialized agency, bringing together more than 30 UN entities and dozens of international organizations involved in water and sanitation. Unlike bodies such as the World Health Organization or the Food and Agriculture Organization, it has no independent mandate, budget, or enforcement capacity, a limitation long cited by water policy experts. “Kazakhstan proposes the establishment of an International Water Organization that could consolidate all existing mandates of various UN organizations,” he said during the forum in Ashgabat. Central Asia is among the regions most exposed to water stress, with climate change, aging infrastructure, and competing national demands placing increasing pressure on shared river basins. Disputes over transboundary water use have periodically strained relations among regional states, making water diplomacy a persistent strategic concern. Tokayev suggested transforming the current UN-Water mechanism, a coordinating platform comprising 36 UN entities and 47 international organizations, into a fully-fledged UN agency with a specialized mandate on water and sanitation. “The implementation of such an initiative is fully in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and, of course, is in the interests of the entire international community,” he stated. The President also announced that Astana will host a Regional Environmental Summit in April 2026, during which Kazakhstan plans to initiate international consultations on forming the proposed global water organization. “I am confident that, with shared political will, water-related challenges can begin to be addressed systematically rather than in a piecemeal manner, as is currently the case,” he said. Tokayev stressed that in light of intensifying water scarcity, water conservation and rational usage have become critical priorities, not only for Kazakhstan but for all Central Asian nations. The Caspian Sea has experienced sustained water-level decline over recent decades, a trend scientists attribute to climate change, reduced river inflows, and rising evaporation. The issue has emerged as a growing concern for coastal states due to its implications for fisheries, energy infrastructure, and regional economic stability. He also highlighted the pressing need to address transboundary water use and the deteriorating ecological conditions of the Aral and Caspian Seas. Tokayev advocated for enhancing the effectiveness of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea through joint, compromise-based regional efforts and proposed that Russia be invited to join the Fund as an observer. “The current rate of the Caspian Sea’s shallowing threatens to become irreversible,” he warned, “which would trigger a chain reaction of environmental, socio-economic, and even political consequences.” Kazakhstan has already taken a leading role in regional initiatives to preserve the Caspian ecosystem. The country previously proposed a special intergovernmental...

Kazakhstan's Parliament

Tokayev Signals End of Presidential Appointments in Unicameral Parliament Plan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced that Kazakhstan’s planned transition to a unicameral parliament will eliminate the presidential quota for appointing members of the legislature. The reform, Tokayev has said, is part of a broader effort to streamline the structure of parliament and enhance its professional capacity. The proposal to move to a single-chamber legislature was first introduced in Tokayev’s September address to the nation. At present, Kazakhstan’s parliament consists of two chambers: the Mazhilis, with 98 deputies elected through a mixed electoral system, and the Senate, which comprises 50 members, some elected by regional maslikhats (local representative bodies) and others appointed by the president. Under the current system, the head of state appoints 10 senators, half of whom are nominated by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. Speaking at a forum of rural akims (governors), Tokayev confirmed his intention to relinquish this presidential privilege. “An excessive increase in the number of deputies is inappropriate. On the contrary, the work of parliament should be optimized and improved. In the new unicameral parliament, there will be no presidential quota, all deputies must be elected in a unified manner,” he said. Tokayev emphasized that the transition to a unicameral model necessitates the formation of a "truly professional parliament" composed of qualified legislators capable of addressing the country’s pressing issues. Among the structural reforms proposed are the creation of new committees, including those focused on digitalization and regional development. These institutional changes will be included in a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments. The president also stated that the forthcoming referendum will serve as a vote on an updated version of the Constitution. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tokayev’s call to abolish the Senate has already sparked debate among political analysts and lawmakers regarding the implications of a unicameral future for Kazakhstan.

International Diplomacy

Between Trump and Putin: Tokayev Emerges as a Regional Diplomatic Powerbroker

In a striking display of diplomatic balancing, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ended 2025 with a high-profile state visit to Moscow, where he and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a declaration elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance. The visit came just days after Tokayev returned from Washington, where he participated in a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, and the September meeting with Xi Jinping in Tianjin. Back-to-back high-level diplomatic engagements have underscored Tokayev’s rising stature as a regional statesman navigating the complex geopolitical landscape between Russia and the West, representing a somewhat diplomatic ‘hat trick’ for the Kazakh leader. Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy has long sought to maintain balanced relations with Russia, China, the United States, and Europe. This approach allows Astana to position itself as a neutral and pragmatic actor even during periods of geopolitical tension, and explains why Tokayev is one of the few leaders trusted by both Washington and Moscow. Amid speculation in global media about Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords, Tokayev’s stop in Moscow has drawn attention not only for its symbolism but also for its possible behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Kazakhstan’s agreement to sign the Abraham Accords has generated considerable discussion within diplomatic circles. For Washington, Astana’s endorsement signals alignment with U.S. regional objectives in the Middle East, while for Russia, it raised questions about Kazakhstan’s strategic leanings, making Tokayev’s immediate trip to Moscow particularly important. No Central Asian state had previously moved to formally support a U.S.-brokered Middle Eastern diplomatic framework, making Kazakhstan’s position especially noteworthy. A Private Conversation at the Kremlin Russian political analyst Arkady Dubnov highlighted the significance of an informal, private meeting between Tokayev and Putin ahead of their official talks. “The presidents exchanged brief greetings, and then Putin invited his guest to his Kremlin apartment for a private conversation,” Dubnov noted. Tokayev later confirmed that the tête-à-tête lasted over two-and-a-half hours. Dubnov suggested that such discretion may point to confidential messages being relayed. He cited recent remarks by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who visited Astana shortly before Tokayev’s Washington trip. Stubb reportedly said that Tokayev could serve as a conduit for communication between Trump and the Kremlin. Before this, only Chinese President Xi Jinping had been granted such extended privacy with Putin, Dubnov emphasized. Tokayev is one of the few leaders who has maintained uninterrupted working relationships with both Western capitals and Moscow throughout recent years. His neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, refusal to recognize breakaway territories, and active participation in U.S.-backed initiatives - combined with Kazakhstan’s deep economic and security links with Russia - place Tokayev in a uniquely credible position. Neither side views him as fully aligned with the other, which increases his utility as a channel for sensitive political messaging. Kazakhstan as a Strategic Messenger? Kazakh political analyst Andrei Chebotarev also underscored the potential geopolitical significance of the Tokayev-Putin meeting. “Most likely, the Russian president was interested in the details of his Kazakh counterpart's recent visit to the U.S. and his talks with...