Bolton likely to visit Seoul this month: Japanese media
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is likely to visit South Korea later this month for talks with Seoul officials over North Korea's nuclear program, Japanese media reported Thursday.
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is likely to visit South Korea later this month for talks with Seoul officials over North Korea's nuclear program, Japanese media reported Thursday, Yonhap reports.
Citing diplomatic sources, the Kyodo News agency said that Seoul and Washington are "in the final stages of arranging his visit to Seoul around May 28 to meet Chung Eui-yong," referring to the director of the National Security Office at South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
His possible visit comes at a time when negotiations on how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been stalled after the no-deal Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February.
Bolton is expected to reaffirm the U.S. stance that sanctions against the North should be in place until Pyongyang takes detailed steps for the denuclearization," Kyodo reported.
Citing South Korean government officials, NHK carried a similar report that said Bolton is to arrive in Seoul on May 28 to meet with Seoul officials.
Earlier, diplomatic sources said Stephen Biegun, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, is likely to visit Seoul from May 8-10 to discuss North Korean nuclear issues.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
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Central Asian Countries Reaffirm Commitment to the Principles of the UN Charter
The Permanent Representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the United Nations took part in the UN80 commemorative event marking the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Ahead of the anniversary, President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock invited Member States to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter through the signing of a symbolic document reflecting the core values and aspirations set out in its Preamble.
The countries of Central Asia became the first regional group to join the initiative collectively. Their participation underscored the region’s shared commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, international law and mutually beneficial cooperation.
UN Charter Day is observed annually on 26 June, commemorating the signing of the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco on 26 June 1945.
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Kazakhstan and Serbia Discuss Cooperation within International Organizations in Belgrade
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia Madi Atamkulov met with Damjan Jović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed topics on the agenda of bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Serbia, as well as synchronized their positions on cooperation between the foreign ministries in a multilateral format.
Ambassador Atamkulov thanked his Serbian colleagues for their traditional support of Kazakhstan’s international initiatives; in turn, State Secretary Jović reaffirmed Belgrade’s commitment to further deepening its partnership with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their intention to continue regular dialogue and expand cooperation on the international stage.
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Kazakhstan and Türkiye Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Cooperation on International Legal Issues
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Consultations on international legal issues between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Türkiye were held in Ankara, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The Kazakh side was represented by Dastan Suleimenov, Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while the Turkish side was represented by Firat Sunel, Director General of the Department of International Law and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.
The current state and prospects for further improvement of the treaty and legal framework of bilateral relations were discussed.
In addition, the sides discussed legal aspects of cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations and exchanged views on current issues of international law.
The consultations were held in a constructive atmosphere and confirmed the mutual interest in strengthening cooperation between the legal services of the foreign ministries of the two countries.
By agreement of the sides, the next round of consultations will be held in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
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First Kazakhstan-Spain Forum Opened New Prospects for Partnership
Arman Issetov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Diego Martínez, State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain took part in the first Kazakhstan-Spain Forum was held today in Astana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Deputy Minister noted the active economic cooperation between the two countries. It was highlighted that many leading Spanish companies have successfully established themselves in the country's market, including Airbus, Maxam, Talgo, Técnicas Reunidas, Glovo, Roca, and Inditex.
Arman Issetov stressed on promising areas of cooperation - from transport and logistics to renewable energy, digital technologies, water resource management, advanced manufacturing, and agribusiness. "Kazakhstan acts as a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia, and Spain brings internationally recognized experience in infrastructure, innovation, sustainable development, tourism, and industrial modernization," the Deputy Minister added.
The event included three panel sessions on the topics "The European Union's Strategy for Central Asia: The Role of Kazakhstan and Spain," "Sustainable Urban Infrastructure, Logistics, and Business Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Spain," and "Tourism and Sports: Best Practices and Current Challenges in Kazakhstan and Spain." The Kazakh side was represented by representatives of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maqsut Narikbayev University, Kazakhstan Center for Modernization and Development of Housing and Public Utilities, Kazakhstan Football Federation, Kazakh Tourism.
The forum focused on prospects for cooperation in tourism, sports, and education. Following the event, agreements were reached to continue active dialogue to develop the bilateral partnership.
Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Spain amounted to $1.93 billion. From 2005 to 2025, Kazakhstan attracted approximately $345 million in direct investment from Spain. 35 joint ventures operate in Kazakhstan.
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Data Center Valley: Kazakhstan Government, Firebird, and NVIDIA Sign $10 Billion Package of Agreements in Artificial Intelligence
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian and Firebird co-founders Razmig Hovaghimian, Chief Executive Officer, and Alexander Yesayan. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Kazakhtelecom Bagdat Mussin, and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stufft, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
U.S.-based Firebird specializes in AI infrastructure, data center development, and high-performance computing systems. The company delivers projects across multiple regions worldwide and collaborates with leading technology partners, including NVIDIA, the global leader in artificial intelligence, accelerated computing, and digital infrastructure. NVIDIA technologies power many of the world's leading supercomputers and data centers and serve as the foundation for a significant share of today's generative AI models.
The meeting focused on the development of Kazakhstan’s national AI infrastructure, including the deployment of high-performance computing capacity, construction of advanced data centers, and attraction of international technology partners.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure development are among Kazakhstan’s highest national priorities.
By the decision of the Head of State, 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. This week, Kazakhstan adopted the National Strategy for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Development, ‘Digital Qazaqstan’. One of the flagship projects currently being implemented is the Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz. Our goal is to create a platform capable of hosting global digital infrastructure. We highly value the agreements reached with our partners at Firebird and NVIDIA," said Olzhas Bektenov.
The Prime Minister highlighted the key advantages of the Data Center Valley project, including a large land reserve, investment incentives, and competitive electricity costs. A critical factor for investors is the project’s scalability. While 300 MW of power capacity is already available, the project is designed for phased expansion to 1 GW.
Firebird Co-Founder and CEO Razmig Hovaghimian emphasized Kazakhstan’s strong potential for digital infrastructure development.
I would like to acknowledge the President’s vision in declaring 2026 the Year of AI. When we first visited Kazakhstan, it quickly became clear to us that the country’s ambition, expertise, and talent are truly world-class. Countries that invest today in advanced AI computing infrastructure, talent development, and innovation ecosystems will shape the economic opportunities of tomorrow. Firebird combines expertise in deploying cutting-edge U.S. technologies, deep partnerships across the global AI ecosystem, and the ability to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects securely and at exceptional speed. The launch planned for 2027 will place Kazakhstan among the world’s top ten countries in AI infrastructure. We have an incredible team, extraordinary opportunities ahead, and we are excited to work with the Government of Kazakhstan, NVIDIA, and our partners in the United States to help turn Kazakhstan’s vision into reality," said Razmig Hovaghimian.
NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian presented key technological approaches and solutions for the implementation of the Data Center Valley project, as well as Kazakhstan’s integration into the global AI ecosystem.
To develop artificial intelligence, we need what we call a five-layer cake. The most important layer is the application layer. This is where we take all the technologies from the lower layers and transform them into solutions for different industries and sectors, creating real value and tangible benefits. But everything begins with energy. If you do not have energy, you cannot build the rest. It is the foundation. Kazakhstan has energy. Because the country has it in abundance and can generate even more, it is an excellent place to start. In fact, Kazakhstan has the potential to participate at every level of this five-layer cake. Based on what I have seen, what I have read, and what I am witnessing during my visit here, the spirit and determination of Kazakhstan are clearly focused on moving forward and leveraging both its natural resources and its human capital to enter the new era of artificial intelligence," said Rev Lebaredian.
Participants noted that global demand for projects of this nature is growing rapidly. According to international analysts, the global AI market is expected to exceed hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years, while demand for computing capacity required to train and operate AI models continues to grow at double-digit rates annually. As a result, countries are increasingly competing not only for technology and talent, but also for the infrastructure that forms the foundation of the next-generation digital economy.
At the instruction of the Head of State, Kazakhstan is systematically building the national infrastructure required to advance artificial intelligence. The Data Center Valley project is set to become one of the key platforms underpinning the country’s emerging AI token economy.
The planned $10 billion investment will enable Kazakhstan to establish a large-scale computing cluster powered by 100,000 state-of-the-art GPU chips, including NVIDIA GB300 and Vera Rubin. According to our estimates, the project will generate at least $3 billion in annual export revenue, create new high-skilled jobs, attract leading global technology companies, and further strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as one of Eurasia’s key digital hubs," said Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Under the directive of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, we are building a world-class data center in Ekibastuz. In essence, Kazakhstan is transforming Ekibastuz coal into digital export revenue. The energy generated from coal is being converted into a high-tech, export-oriented service that will be sold globally to some of the world’s largest companies. This is a joint venture, and our partners at Firebird already have secured service agreements with major global players, which will help generate foreign currency revenues for Kazakhstan," said Bagdat Mussin, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Kazakhtelecom.
For Kazakhstan, the development of advanced data centers and computing platforms creates opportunities to attract investment, localize digital services, train engineering talent, and establish new export-oriented technology sectors. The availability of domestic high-performance infrastructure will also support scientific research, startup development, cloud services, and AI solutions within the country.
Following the meeting, agreements on artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure cooperation totaling $10 billion were signed, including:
A Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Firebird, establishing a framework for AI ecosystem development and the creation of Firebird Labs Kazakhstan at Alem.ai.
A Binding Term Sheet between JSC Kazakhtelecom and Firebird outlining the technical and organizational parameters of cooperation within the Data Center Valley project.
The agreements provide the foundation for the next phase of the Data Center Valley initiative, which aims to establish a modern technological platform for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and next-generation digital services. The signed agreements reflect growing interest from global technology companies in Kazakhstan as a destination for AI infrastructure investment and strengthen the country’s position as one of the emerging digital hubs of Central Eurasia.
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Kazakh Delegation Participated in a Conference Marking the 25th Anniversary of the SCO
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermukhambet Konuspayev took part an international conference entitled "Central Asia - the Core of the SCO: A Space of Peace and Shared Development" was held in Dushanbe. The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the SCO Friendship and Cooperation Centre in Tajikistan, and was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
In his statement, Deputy Minister Konuspayev noted that, since the very beginning of the "Shanghai Process", the Central Asian countries have been among the active founding states of the Organization and continue to make a significant contribution to its development. He stressed that Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to further strengthening the SCO as a platform for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.
In his welcoming remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, emphasized that, owing to the political will of the leaders of the Central Asian states, the region has in recent years become one of the most dynamically developing regions of Eurasia. He noted that Central Asia has objectively begun to play a system-forming role, constituting a stable core of the SCO and generating momentum for its further evolution.
Virtually all participants highlighted the important role of the SCO in ensuring security and stability across Eurasia, underscoring its prominent place among respected and influential international and regional organizations.
Particular attention was paid to the contribution of the Central Asian countries to the establishment and progressive development of the SCO, as well as to their role in strengthening the principles of mutual trust, good-neighbourliness and equal partnership.
The conference brought together Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan, the Ambassador of Iran to Tajikistan, as well as heads and representatives of international organizations, including ESCAP, CIS, CSTO, UNESCO, CICA, ECO and others.
As part of the visit, Deputy Minister Konuspayev held a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Nigina Alizoda.
During the meeting, the parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, including preparations for upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels, as well as prospects for the further development of Kazakhstan-Tajikistan cooperation in the political, trade, economic and investment spheres.
The parties also reviewed specific issues related to the implementation of joint projects of mutual interest and exchanged views on current regional and international agenda issues.
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Kazakhstan and the European Union enter a new stage of negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission
The delegations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Union successfully held another round of negotiations on the draft Agreement of Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the negotiations, the parties continued substantive discussions aimed at further aligning their positions on the key provisions of the future agreements.
Particular attention was paid to improving visa procedures for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including application processing times, the issuance of multiple-entry visas, the optimization of supporting documentation requirements, and other practical measures designed to facilitate people-to-people contacts.
At the conclusion of the negotiations, the parties noted significant progress on the majority of provisions of both agreements and confirmed their readiness to continue the work.
The results achieved reflect a high level of mutual understanding and provide a solid foundation for further enhancing the mobility of citizens, as well as expanding business, educational, scientific and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan received Ambassador of Canada
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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashykbayev received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the Republic of Kazakhstan Christopher Duggan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Canada in the political, trade, economic and legal areas.
Special attention was paid to high-level contacts and issues of multilateral cooperation.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue efforts to expand bilateral interaction.
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