Kazakhstan Expands International Cooperation in Culture, Energy and Economy
Kazakh diplomats have held a series of international meetings and events aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of culture, energy and economic development. Discussions focused on preserving the heritage of the Silk Road, water security, industrial cooperation and investment promotion.
An international conference titled "Heritage, Travel and Traditions of the Silk Road: A Path of Intercultural Dialogue" was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris to mark the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations.
Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Askar Abdrakhmanov, highlighted Kazakhstan's role in the development of the Silk Road and its significance as a historic corridor for economic and cultural exchange.
The conference concluded with a tasting of traditional dishes from Silk Road countries, including Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Kuwait, Erzhan Yelekeyev, met with Kuwait's Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Subaih Al-Mukhayzim.
The parties discussed cooperation in the fields of electricity, water resources and renewable energy. They also exchanged views on ensuring the sustainable operation of energy and water infrastructure.
Following the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation in energy, water resources and renewable energy development.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov met with Sweden's State Secretary for Foreign Trade, Diana Janse, who arrived in Astana to participate in the 16th Astana Mining & Metallurgy International Congress (AMM).
The parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of Kazakh-Swedish cooperation, noting the growing momentum of political dialogue, inter-parliamentary contacts and trade and economic relations.
Promising areas for future cooperation include renewable energy, environmental technologies, water management solutions, agriculture, transport and logistics, digitalisation of public administration and artificial intelligence.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides confirmed their interest in further strengthening bilateral partnership and implementing new joint projects.
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Tokayev: Kazakhstan Welcomes Agreement Reached Between the United States and Iran
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement reached between the United States and Iran. The head of state expressed his position in a post on the social media platform X.
According to Tokayev, the agreements reached are of great importance both for the region and for the international community as a whole.
In the current complex international environment, this agreement is of exceptional importance both for the region and for the entire global community. We highly appreciate the political will demonstrated by the parties, which made it possible to restore trust and find mutually acceptable solutions," the president wrote.
The head of state also highlighted the role of U.S. President Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership in achieving the agreement.
We particularly note the leadership of President Donald Trump of the United States, who demonstrated determination and strategic vision at this critical moment. We also welcome the constructive approach of the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Tokayev said.
The president expressed hope that the signing of the document would provide a solid foundation for strengthening peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond.
The United States and Iran have reached several compromises in the text of the final memorandum of understanding, according to Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti, citing Iran's Mehr News Agency.
During the night leading into Monday, the two sides announced that a deal had been reached. The agreement is scheduled to be signed on June 19. According to officials from both countries, the U.S. naval blockade is expected to end as early as today, while the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent mine-clearing operations will begin after the agreement is formally signed.
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Foreign Ministry Explains Reasons Behind U.S. Visa Denials for Kazakh Citizens
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Erlan Zhetybayev has commented on issues related to U.S. visa applications by Kazakh citizens, a correspondent reports.
First and foremost, it is related to discrepancies in the submitted documents. There is a specific list of documents that applicants are required to provide. If the documents meet the requirements, no violations have been committed by the applicant, and all paperwork is in order, the state makes a decision to issue a visa. If there are problems with the documents, applicants are usually asked additional questions or requested to provide supplementary documentation. As far as I know, once these documents are submitted, visas are approved in most cases," Zhetybayev explained.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also addressed reports circulating on social media claiming that Russian citizens applying for U.S. visas through Kazakhstan receive approvals more frequently than Kazakh applicants.
We do not have such information. To my knowledge, the U.S. Embassy has not published any official statements or statistics on this matter," he said.
Zhetybayev stressed that each visa application is reviewed individually and in accordance with established procedures, without consideration of any factors outside the official requirements.
He also noted that negotiations between Kazakhstan and the European Union on visa facilitation and readmission are progressing successfully.
According to him, the third round of negotiations was recently held in Brussels, and further details may be announced in the near future.
The spokesperson also pointed to an increase in visa applications due to the summer travel season, which has placed additional pressure on consular services. He noted that issuing visas remains the sovereign right of each state and advised Kazakh citizens to submit their applications well in advance and carefully comply with all visa requirements.
Earlier, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Erzhan Ashikbayev stated that approximately 45-46% of visa applications submitted by Kazakh citizens for travel to the United States are rejected.
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Kazakhstan’s Achievements in the Space Sector Presented at the 69th Session of COPUOS
Images | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan participated in the 69th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), held in Vienna from 10 to 18 June 2026, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
In its national statement, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the peaceful use of outer space, the development of international cooperation, the strengthening of trust, and ensuring equal access for all States to the benefits of space technologies.
Particular attention was given to a historic event for the country’s space sector - the first test launch of the new-generation Soyuz-5/Sunkar launch vehicle, conducted on 30 April 2026 from the Baiterek space rocket complex. The successful flight-design tests of the launch vehicle opened new opportunities for strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in the global space services market and further developing modern launch infrastructure on the territory of the country.
Kazakhstan also presented information on the development of the Assy-Turgen Observatory, which is serving as a basis for the establishment of a regional centre for space situational awareness and an open platform for hosting international telescopes - International AstroHub.
The development of cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States, including the implementation of the OTS SAT scientific nanosatellite, was also highlighted.
In conclusion, the Republic of Kazakhstan invited COPUOS Member States, international organizations and partners to participate in the international forum "Space Days Kazakhstan - 2026", which will be held in Astana from 7 to 9 September 2026.
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Kazakhstan and Sweden are Taking Economic Cooperation to a New Practical Level
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov met with State Secretary for Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Diana Janse, who arrived in Astana to participate in the 16th International Mining and Metallurgy Congress "Astana Mining & Metallurgy."
Parties discussed the current state and prospects for further development of Kazakh-Swedish cooperation. They noted the progressive momentum in bilateral relations, accompanied by intensified political dialogue, interparliamentary contacts, and expanded trade and economic cooperation.
Particular attention was paid to the implementation of joint projects and the development of industrial cooperation. Specifically, the parties discussed prospects for collaboration between Väderstad and AgromashHolding KZ JSC on localizing the production of high-tech agricultural machinery in Kazakhstan, cooperation with Volvo Trucks on a project to assemble trucks jointly with Astana Motors JSC, and further developing their partnership with SKF.
The contributions of Swedish companies successfully operating in the Kazakhstan market, including Ericsson, Epiroc, Sandvik, Scania, and AstraZeneca, were particularly noted.
The parties emphasized the importance of establishing a Kazakh-Swedish Bilateral Commission on Trade, Economic, and Investment Cooperation, which will serve as a permanent platform for promoting joint initiatives, supporting investment projects, and expanding business ties.
Promising areas for further cooperation include renewable energy, clean technologies, water solutions, agriculture, transport and logistics, digital public administration, and artificial intelligence. Following the meeting, mutual interest in further strengthening the multifaceted partnership and implementing new joint projects was confirmed.
From 2005 to 2025, gross direct investment from Sweden to Kazakhstan amounted to $705.6 million. Approximately 60 companies with Swedish capital operate in the republic, working in the fields of healthcare, technology, energy, environmental protection, transport, agriculture, industry, and education.
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Kazakhstan Consistently Supports Strengthening the Role of the SCO - Foreign Ministry
Kazakhstan consistently advocates strengthening the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as an effective platform for multilateral cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Erlan Zhetybayev said at a briefing, a correspondent reports.
As a founding member of the SCO, Kazakhstan consistently supports enhancing the organization's role as an effective platform for multilateral cooperation based on the principles of mutual trust, equality, mutual benefit, respect for cultural diversity and a commitment to shared development," Zhetybayev said.
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President of Kazakhstan's Initiative to Establish an International Water Organization Presented in Kuwait
Images | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Kuwait Yerzhan Yelekeyev held a meeting with the Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of the State of Kuwait, Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem.
During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of electricity, water resources management, and renewable energy, and exchanged views on ensuring the sustainability of energy and water infrastructure. It was emphasized that, under current conditions, energy and water security have acquired particular strategic importance.
Special attention was paid to the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan briefed the Kuwaiti side on the objectives of the initiative, which is aimed at strengthening international cooperation in the rational use and preservation of water resources.
Minister Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem stressed that water security is of paramount importance to the State of Kuwait. He noted that the Kuwaiti side would carefully study Kazakhstan's initiative and expressed support for international initiatives in the field of water resources, reaffirming the importance of consolidating global efforts to address water-related challenges.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy, water resources, and renewable energy.
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Outcomes of International Symposium on Heritage of Golden Horde Presented at UNESCO
Images | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The outcomes of the symposium on the history of the Golden Horde held in Astana were among the topics discussed at the international conference "Heritage, Travel and Traditions of the Silk Roads: A Journey of Intercultural Dialogue," organized at UNESCO Headquarters on the occasion of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.
UNESCO’s senior leadership, ambassadors of countries situated along the historic overland and maritime Silk Roads, as well as prominent scholars and experts in history and cultural heritage, took part in the event.
In his remarks, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Askar Abdrakhmanov, highlighted his country’s role in the development of the Silk Roads and their contemporary manifestations as a vehicle not only for economic exchange but also for intercultural dialogue and interaction.
In this context, the Ambassador informed participants of the meeting in Paris about the outcomes of the international symposium "The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture and Identity," held in Astana on 19-20 May 2026.
According to him, the participation of more than 300 delegates from over 20 countries across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, representing various research schools specializing in the history of the Golden Horde and the Great Steppe, reflected the high international importance of a systematic study of the political, socio-economic and cultural heritage of this large medieval state and the continued relevance of further in-depth research on the broad range of related topics.
As the Ambassador recalled, during the era of the Golden Horde, which controlled the northern branch of the Silk Roads and ensured the security of trade routes across the Great Steppe, tons of goods regularly passed through its territory, including silk from China, spices from India, furs from Russia, horses from Central Asia, and handicraft products from Europe and the Middle East. He noted that the minting of a vast number of coins in the name of the rulers of the Ulus of Jochi (Golden Horde) was evidence of its economic power, while discoveries of these coins across various regions of Eurasia help us today to trace more accurately the history of trade and other exchanges along this section of the Silk Roads.
The grand symposium on the heritage of the Golden Horde, held in Kazakhstan under the patronage of UNESCO, clearly demonstrated the strong interest of the international scholarly community in rethinking the interconnected histories of Eurasia and the Great Steppe through a broader and more inclusive perspective," the diplomat emphasized.
In this regard, he thanked the leadership of this reputable intergovernmental organization for its valuable support for the Kazakh initiative, its high-level participation in the symposium, and its substantive contribution to the academic discussions held in Astana.
For his part, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, who headed the Organization’s delegation to the symposium in Astana, praised the event’s high organizational and substantive quality. He underscored the importance of such initiatives for a comprehensive study of the contribution made by the peoples of Eurasia to the common cultural heritage of humanity and expressed appreciation to Kazakhstan for its long-standing support of UNESCO’s Silk Roads Program.
At the conclusion of the day’s program, conference participants were able to sample national cuisines reflecting the culinary heritage of the countries of the Silk Roads, including one from Kazakhstan.
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Kazakhstan to Host Foreign Delegations and Hold Series of International Talks
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Erlan Zhetybayev has announced a number of key international events involving Kazakhstan that will take place in June, a correspondent reports.
According to Zhetybayev, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Stefan Rouenhoff, will visit Kazakhstan on June 15-16. A visit by Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche, is also expected on June 29-30.
Meetings with the country's leadership and representatives of relevant government agencies are planned as part of these visits. The parties will discuss the further development of Kazakh-German trade, economic and investment cooperation, interaction in the energy and raw materials sectors, the expansion of industrial cooperation, and the implementation of joint projects, including those related to critical raw materials," Zhetybayev said.
On June 16, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev will participate in the second Senior Officials' Meeting of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum in Tashkent. He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, during which preparations for the forum's first summit and issues of regional cooperation will be discussed.
On the same day, Astana will host the eighth round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of Kazakhstan and Spain. The Kazakh delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov, while the Spanish delegation will be headed by Spain's Secretary of State Diego Martínez Belío.
During the consultations, the parties will discuss the development of political dialogue, the strengthening of trade, economic and investment ties, the expansion of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as current issues on the international and regional agenda.
In addition, Astana will host the inaugural Kazakhstan-Spain Forum, which will serve as a new platform for interaction between government institutions, business communities, experts and academic circles of the two countries.
June 17 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The initiative to create the pan-Asian forum was first proposed by Kazakhstan at the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. Today, CICA brings together 28 member states, with its headquarters located in Astana. In accordance with the 2022 Astana Statement, the forum continues its transformation into a fully-fledged international organization.
From June 18 to 20, Speaker of the Senate of Poland Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska will pay a working visit to Kazakhstan. The visit will include meetings with the country's leadership, as well as with the chairpersons of the Senate and the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.
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