Head of State Tokayev meets Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun
Images | Akorda
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Minister of National Defense of China Dong Jun, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
Welcoming Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, Tokayev noted his contribution to the strengthening of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Head of State stressed that the Kazakh-Chinese relations are at the highest level of eternal all-round strategic partnership. As Tokayev said, Kazakhstan and China share the common views on the key issues of regional and international security on the multilateral track.
Our countries maintain a constructive dialogue and provide mutual support within the UN, SCO, CICA. We commend and back China’s global development initiative, the global security initiative and the global civilization initiative. I believe that they will positively contribute to the strengthening of the modern architecture of global security, said the Kazakh President.
For his part, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun thanked the Head of State of Kazakhstan for the hospitality and noted the high level of preparation for the meeting of the defense ministers of member states of the SCO in Astana.
During the meeting, the sides expressed interest in developing peacekeeping, educational and military technical cooperation.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Tokayev chairs Security Council meeting on energy resilience
Images | Akorda
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday chaired a meeting of the Security Council, focusing on national energy system resilience, Qazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
The meeting saw reports made by energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, and a number of heads of government agencies.
The Kazakh President said that in today's reality, energy security ensures independence and economic resilience, noting that the country’s existing resources are generally enough for self-sufficiency in electricity. He also stressed that growing demand requires rational and efficient use of resources.
The meeting also highlighted the need to develop domestic maneuvering capacities. Alongside the development of gas generation and energy storage, hydropower’s potential remains relevant.
The Head of State also pointed to the importance of broad implementation of water conservation technologies across agriculture, industry, and other economic sectors.
Special attention was placed to address scientific-technological and personnel challenges facing the sector. Training of skilled personnel for the development of a scientific research base for hydropower was also highlighted.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan’s capital prepares for autonomous taxi rollout
Images | Depositphotos
A memorandum of cooperation on the development of an autonomous taxi service has been signed in Astana, Qazinform News Agency learned from the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.
The memorandum was signed with the participation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Transport, Astana Mayor’s Office, and Yandex Qazaqstan. The parties agreed to jointly work on and, in the future, launch a driverless taxi service in the capital.
The memorandum provides for a stage-by-stage preparation of the driverless taxi project - from regulatory and technological development to pilot launches. The project implementation is scheduled for 2026 and will be carried out in close cooperation with government agencies and city services," the ministry says.
Driverless taxis are viewed as part of a long-term development of urban mobility. According to international studies, autonomous technologies can reduce accidents by minimizing the human factor, optimize traffic flow, and improve transport accessibility for various groups of the population, including people with limited mobility. In addition, such services may become an important element of a sustainable transport system in major cities.
Chairman of the Digital Assets and Breakthrough Technologies Committee, Gizzat Baiturssynov, emphasized the importance of advancing the issues of safety, responsibility, human-algorithm interaction, as well as developing a regulatory framework.
“Driverless taxis are part of a broader ‘smart city’ ecosystem, where technologies serve the interests of people,” he said.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan to launch first Soyuz-5/Sunkar from Baiterek in Q1 2026
Images | roscosmos.ru
The first launch of the Soyuz5/Sunkar rocket from the Baiterek launch complex is expected in the first quarter of 2026, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev.
This is our own Kazakh launch complex, designed to deploy launch vehicles in the medium-to-heavy class segment. Preparations are currently in an active phase, and the rocket is now on the territory of Kazakhstan. We expect the first test launch to take place in the first quarter of next year," the minister said.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
President signs law boosting investment in hydrocarbons and uranium
Images | kazatomprom.kz
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed the Law introducing amendments to the Subsoil and Subsoil Use Code, enhancing hydrocarbon and uranium extraction regulation, Qazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
Firstly, the amendments formally define the status of poorly explored territories-areas where regional geological studies have not been conducted or where no promising sedimentary basins have previously been identified.
Secondly, to bolster investor confidence, the law introduces a provision that allows any company conducting geological research at its own expense to receive exclusive and guaranteed priority for subsequent exploration and extraction licenses.
The third direction concerns improving the efficiency of using reserve subsoil plots. Currently, 53 hydrocarbon sites are assigned to national companies, but active operations are underway on only about 20% of them. In the meantime, others languish for years, remaining undeveloped. The new law limits reservation periods and requires unused plots to be put up for electronic auctions, increasing competition, accelerating geological exploration, and attracting new market participants.
The fourth major provision is related to the uranium sector. In light of growing global interest in nuclear energy, the national company is granted priority rights to explore and develop new uranium deposits. The measure is intended to help maintain Kazakhstan’s energy balance and strengthen its position in the global nuclear energy market.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakh President signs decree expanding National Security Committee’s powers
Images | ortcom.kz
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday signed a decree on measures to improve public administration, expanding the National Security Committee's powers, Qazinform News Agency reports.
According to the decree, the Kazakh National Security Committee is granted powers and functions from the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Ministry on the exercise of state control in the informatization field, specifically regarding information security of critical assets of information and communications infrastructure.
Under the document, the Government, together with the National Security Committee, is instructed to prepare necessary legislative amendments and adopt measures to implement the decree.
In addition, the National Security Committee was assigned with submitting to the President draft amendments and additions to the Regulations of the Committee for consideration, with control over the decree’s implementation resting with the Presidential Administration.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.