Golden Horde era crucial to Kazakhstan's history, says President Tokayev
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The Golden Horde era is an essential part of Kazakhstan's national history and a period of civilizational evolution, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated at The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture and Identity international symposium, Qazinform News Agency reports.
As I have already noted, the conquests of rulers and talented commanders are etched more deeply in the historical memory of most peoples than the painstaking work of reformers and outstanding thinkers. Indeed, legendary military victories stir a much deeper emotional response than institutional innovations or progressive ideas - whose fateful significance only reveals itself and is properly appreciated with the passage of time," the President said.
A clear example of this is the distorted perception of the history of the Great Steppe, which to this day is often viewed as a never-ending string of battles and clashes.
Such a one-dimensional approach considerably oversimplifies and distorts historical reality, forcing the complex, multi-layered existence of the Great Steppe, especially the Golden Horde, onto the 'Procrustean bed' of a banal military chronicle. I believe that the high interdisciplinary level of modern science will nonetheless allow us to improve the process of objective study of the Golden Horde's history," the Head of State pointed out.
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New Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Kazakhstan’s National Guard appointed
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With the approval of the President’s Executive Office and in accordance with the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Colonel Yernur Zhunussov has been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for equipment and armaments, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of Kazakhstan introduced his new deputy to the staff.
Throughout his career, Zhunussov has held seniour positions within Kazakhstan’s law enforcement system. For his dedicated service, he has been awarded the II defree Aibyn Order.
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President Tokayev holds phone talks with leaders of several states
The Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on Sunday held telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Qazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
The foreign leaders congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his birthday and wished him further success in his responsible state activities for the benefit of the people of Kazakhstan.
During the phone talks, the sides also discussed current issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda.
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Artificial rain enhancement project launched in Turkistan
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A ceremonial launch of a project aimed at artificially increasing precipitation took place on May 16 in Turkistan. Kazakhstan has become the first country in the region to move to the practical implementation of artificial rain technologies, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan.
The project is designed to increase reservoir water levels and provide water resources to agricultural areas in the south of the country.
Full-scale implementation will begin on May 17, 2026.
The technology is intended to reduce the impact of drought and water shortages on agricultural lands in Turkistan region, covering more than 911,000 hectares of arable land.
The project is being carried out in international cooperation with the UAE National Center of Meteorology, which has extensive experience in weather modification and artificial rainfall enhancement technologies dating back to the late 1980s.
The launch ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan Zhaslan Madiyev, President of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization and Director General of the UAE National Center of Meteorology Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, Mohammed Saeed Mohammed Al Ariqi, and governor of Turkistan region Nuralkhan Kusherov.
Kazakhstan is taking a practical step toward building a new system of climate resilience. For the first time in the region, a project of this scale in artificial precipitation enhancement technologies is being launched. For us, this marks the beginning of a modern climate infrastructure based on science, international partnership, and digital technologies. The project is being implemented jointly with leading global experts and creates a foundation for technology transfer and the training of Kazakhstani specialists, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev.
According to international assessments, artificial rain technologies can increase precipitation levels by 10-20% compared to natural conditions. Similar technologies are actively used in China, the United States, the UAE, France, and Saudi Arabia.
The project will be implemented locally in areas with increased water demand, primarily agricultural territories. The selection of operational zones is being carried out jointly with meteorological specialists and relevant government agencies, taking into account weather conditions, environmental factors, and water supply needs.
The technology has a localized effect radius of no more than five kilometers and is not associated with the formation of large-scale weather events. Salt-based reagents commonly used in international weather modification practices will be applied.
Officials expect the project to improve water supply efficiency for agricultural lands, reduce drought-related losses, and support higher crop yields. The potential economic impact is estimated at up to 35 billion tenge annually.
As part of the partnership, specialists from the UAE National Center of Meteorology are training experts from Turkistan region in weather modification technologies, including meteorologists, pilots, engineers, and technical specialists. Authorities are also considering expanding the technology to other regions of Kazakhstan and laying the groundwork for the development of domestic climate technologies.
The project involves multiple government agencies and organizations, including the Ministries of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Water Resources and Irrigation, Foreign Affairs, Culture and Information, Defense, Agriculture, Transport, Finance, Ecology and Natural Resources, Energy, Emergency Situations, Turkistan region’s administration, the Civil Aviation Committee, Kazaeronavigatsia, and Kazhydromet.
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President Tokayev extends gratitude to Turkistan residents for contribution to OTS informal summit
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev convened a meeting following the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Turkistan on May 15, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Telegram channel of Presidential Adviser and Press Secretary Aibek Smadiyarov.
During the meeting, the Head of State thanked the residents of the city and governor of Turkistan region Nuralkhan Kusherov for their efforts in preparing the important international event.
Thanks to their effective work, Turkistan, a city home to the sacred sites of Turkic civilization, demonstrated its strong potential as an attractive center for cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as its readiness to host major international forums.
According to the President, foreign leaders and all summit participants highly praised the quality of the roads, the cleanliness of the city, and the landscaping of streets and park areas.
The Head of State instructed regional and city authorities to continue efforts aimed at further developing and improving Turkistan, which he described as a historical jewel of Kazakhstan and the wider region.
President Tokayev also announced his decision to award state honors, certificates of appreciation, and letters of gratitude to a large group of local government employees, administrative staff, military and law enforcement personnel, utility workers, volunteers, and other activists for their dedicated service to Kazakhstan.
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Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan to launch joint satellite
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The presidents of OTS member states participating in the Informal Summit in Turkistan on Friday were briefed on key initiatives to develop Kazakhstan's digital economy and strengthen technological partnership in the region, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Akorda press service.
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, told the heads of state that Kazakhstan views AI as a strategic priority, building a comprehensive ecosystem through developing infrastructure, human capital, and innovative products.
Presently, satellite communication technologies from Starlink and OneWeb are being actively deployed in Kazakhstan, and the construction of the Trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line promises to take the country's transit potential to a new level.
An important step has been the expansion of computing power: following the launch of the region's largest supercomputers, the ambitious Data Center Valley project is set to begin. The hub, with a capacity of at least 1 GW, is designed to become the foundation for a new export-oriented economic model based on providing AI computing services.
Cooperation among OTS countries is already yielding tangible results in the space industry. Partnering with Uzbekistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan is working to create a CubeSat scientific satellite, with its launch scheduled for next year.
Artificial intelligence is being actively integrated into the public administration system. Solutions such as the eGov AI assistant and the AlemGPT platform are making government services more intelligent and proactive.
Kazakhstan is also building a continuous educational pipeline - from school initiatives and TUMO centers to a specialized AI Research University.
Alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence is set to become a hub for specialists and startups, providing a full cycle from research to the deployment of finished products.
The presidents were also briefed on efforts to digitalize the transport and logistics sector. The main goals of introducing AI into this sector are to simplify processes, reduce costs, and increase the transit potential of the region's countries.
Finally, it was noted that OTS member states unanimously supported Kazakhstan's initiative to establish the Asia-Pacific Digital Solutions Center. Kazakhstan expressed its sincere gratitude to its partners for their support, which facilitated the adoption of a resolution at the 82nd session of the UN ESCAP in Bangkok to establish this center in Almaty.
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OTS presidents kick-start Turkic Civilization Center construction in Turkistan
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The Center of Turkic Civilization will be built in Turkistan. The presidents of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) member states on Friday kick-started the construction of the new building by laying a time capsule, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Akorda press service.
The center's central concept is to present the Turkic peoples as the creators of a great civilization with a unique place in world history, a profound philosophy, and centuries-old traditions of statehood.
The center will focus on scientific research, systematizing shared historical heritage, developing cultural tourism, and promoting international cooperation.
The architectural design will be imbued with deep symbolism. The complex's space is planned to reflect key concepts of the Turkic worldview, such as Tengri, Ergenekon, Kok Bori, Zheruyik, the Great Steppe, and the Tree of Life.
In terms of content, the exhibition will feature various thematic zones. The center will use cutting-edge technologies. Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), holography, artificial intelligence, and immersive sound and lighting systems will help visitors feel as if they are part of historic events.
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Presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan visit Yassawi Mausoleum
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The heads of state paid tribute to the great thinker and spiritual leader Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Akorda press service.
Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan visited one of the shrines of great spiritual, historical, and cultural significance to the Turkic world - the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The heads of state paid tribute to the memory of the great thinker and spiritual mentor Khoja Ahmed Yassawi and other prominent figures buried at the mausoleum.
The presidents were told that the complex, built in the 14th century by order of Emir Timur, consists of 35 rooms of various sizes. The building's interior height is 39 meters, while its exterior reaches 41 meters.
The distinguished guests viewed the tomb, Kazandyk (central hall), Taikazan (ritual bowl), as well as a bronze laukh (book stand). They were also shown an exhibition of 45 books by renowned thinkers and poets of the Turkic-Islamic world. Among them are Divani Hikmet by Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, Khamsa by Nizami, ghazals by Navoi, works by Bakyrgani, Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, the poem Layla and Majnun by Fuzuli, fragments of the Epic of Manas, and other rare works.
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