Serbian President arrives in Astana on official visit
Images | primeminister.kz
At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, Qazinform News Agency cites the Government press service
The Serbian President was welcomed at the airport by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov. During his official visit, President Vučić is to hold summit-level talks focusing on strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties, and deepening cultural cooperation.
Serbia is a close and reliable partner for Kazakhstan in the Balkan Peninsula. Over the past three decades of diplomatic relations, the two nations have established friendly ties based on mutual respect, trust, and a mutually beneficial partnership.
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Kazakhstan-Malaysia Relations Gain New Momentum
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev held talks with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
A.Bakayev noted that "Kazakhstan views Malaysia as one of its key partners in the region. Over more than 34 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries have established a regular, constructive and substantive political dialogue".
The parties discussed prospects for intensifying political interaction, developing interparliamentary ties, expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as strengthening contacts in the fields of education, tourism and high technologies. Mutual interest in further improving the legal and contractual framework was also confirmed.
Particular attention was given to cooperation within the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, including coordination of approaches and mutual support for initiatives on multilateral platforms.
The Kazakh side also informed the Malaysian partners about the activities of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, expressing interest in expanding the participation of regional states in this platform.
Following the talks, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the consistent development of Kazakhstan-Malaysia cooperation and to maintaining regular contacts on regional and global agenda issues.
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Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Receives U.S. Ambassador Julie Stufft
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stufft, akorda.kz reports.
The President welcomed the strong momentum in Kazakh-U.S. high-level political dialogue, noting that it continues to strengthen cooperation both bilaterally and in multilateral formats.
They discussed the implementation of key agreements in trade, economic cooperation and investment. Both sides emphasized the importance of close coordination between relevant government agencies to achieve concrete results.
The meeting also covered further cooperation within the framework of the Board of Peace. Ambassador Julie Stufft expressed deep appreciation for Kazakhstan’s active engagement and efforts to advance the Organization’s noble goals.
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Why UK-Kazakhstan economic cooperation matters today
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Economic relationships that endure are those anchored in substance: trade, investment, production, skills and shared standards. The partnership between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom increasingly reflects this practical foundation. More than three decades after the establishment of diplomatic relations, our cooperation is defined by measurable economic engagement and institutional depth, intellinews.com reports.
Precisely because this relationship has reached a strong and stable level, the current global environment calls for a more deliberate effort to strengthen and adapt it for the years ahead. Economic fragmentation, supply-chain reorientation, accelerating technological change and the energy transition are reshaping how countries pursue growth and security. For Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom, this means moving towards a partnership that aligns capital, standards and long-term economic priorities.
The scale of our engagement is growing. In 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached $1.62bn, an increase of 83.6% compared to 2024. Kazakhstan’s exports to the UK rose by over 190%, reaching $1.22bn. Since 1993, cumulative British foreign direct investment into Kazakhstan has reached approximately $23bn, placing the United Kingdom among our top ten investors. In 2024 alone, UK investment totalled $723.7mn, with a further $471.5mn invested in the first nine months of 2025. Today, 516 enterprises with British participation operate in Kazakhstan.
These figures suggest confidence in Kazakhstan’s economic fundamentals. Our GDP exceeded $300bn last year, with growth of 6.5%, placing Kazakhstan among the world’s fifty fastest-growing economies. We rank 34th in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, and account for over 60% of total foreign direct investment into Central Asia. Digitalisation of public services has reached over 90%, while internet penetration stands at 93%, supporting an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UK is also evolving in character. While energy and extractive sectors remain important, engagement increasingly extends to green technologies, advanced manufacturing, financial services, pharmaceuticals and digital innovation. British firms are active not only in mining and infrastructure, but also in education, healthcare, architecture, financial services and emerging technology sectors.
Critical minerals and energy transition have emerged as a key area of collaboration. Global demand for critical raw materials is rising rapidly, driven by clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and defence industries. Kazakhstan produces 22 of the 36 minerals identified in the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, including uranium, titanium, silicon and rhenium. We are the world’s largest producer of uranium and rank among the top ten globally in reserves of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, nickel and cobalt. Our objective is to expand midstream processing, refining and by-product recovery, areas where UK expertise in engineering, ESG standards and project finance is highly relevant.
The planned renewal of the UK-Kazakhstan Roadmap on Strategic Partnership in Critical Minerals during my visit to London this week reflects a focus on long-term industrial cooperation across the value chain, including processing, recycling and transparent financing mechanisms.
Financial cooperation remains another pillar of the relationship. The successful initial public offering of Air Astana on the London Stock Exchange in 2024 demonstrated the ability of Kazakh companies to operate under international governance and regulatory standards. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), operating under English common law with an independent court and arbitration system, currently hosts 88 British companies. The presence of British judges in the AIFC Court and the application of familiar legal principles provide predictability for cross-border investment.
Beyond finance and resources, connectivity is shaping Kazakhstan’s economic role. Located at the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan serves as a major transit route for trade between Europe and Asia. Approximately 85% of overland cargo moving between the two regions passes through our territory. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - the Middle Corridor - continues to expand in capacity, supported by investments in rail modernisation and port infrastructure at Aktau and Kuryk. Digital coordination platforms such as Smart Cargo are improving efficiency across transit flows.
Agriculture is another area of expanding cooperation. Kazakhstan exported over 13mn tonnes of grain and grain products in the most recent marketing year and supplies more than 200 types of agricultural products to over 70 countries. As global food security becomes increasingly important, agricultural technology, logistics and financing partnerships offer additional scope for UK engagement.
Human capital provides long-term continuity to economic ties. Under the Bolashak scholarship programme, almost 6,000 Kazakh students have completed their studies in the United Kingdom. British institutions, including De Montfort, Heriot-Watt, Coventry, Cardiff, Queen’s University Belfast and others, have established campuses or joint programmes in Kazakhstan. In September 2025, Cardiff University, a member of the Russell Group, opened a campus in Astana. The launch of Kazakh language teaching at Oxford University in 2024 further highlights growing academic exchange.
These institutional links matter because they create familiarity with standards, regulatory systems and business culture - factors that underpin long-term investment and cooperation.
Beyond individual sectors, Kazakhstan-UK relations increasingly illustrate a shared understanding of Central Asia’s growing economic and strategic relevance. The inaugural UK-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in London this week reflects the United Kingdom’s sustained interest in the region and provides an opportunity to connect bilateral cooperation with broader regional dynamics. For British businesses, this offers not only access to our domestic market, but also a platform for engagement across a region of more than 80mn people.
Why does this cooperation matter today? Because global supply chains are being recalibrated, energy systems are evolving, and technology is reshaping production and services. In such an environment, partnerships grounded in investment, infrastructure, skills and institutional compatibility provide resilience.
Ultimately, my visit to London aims to deepen both bilateral cooperation and the United Kingdom’s engagement with Central Asia. Our economic relationship is measured not only in trade turnover and investment volumes, but in the depth of financial integration, the expansion of processing capacity, and the growth of transport corridors. These are practical foundations. They are also the reason why Kazakhstan-UK economic cooperation matters today.
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Kazakhstan ready to further deepen relations with Serbia - Tokayev
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Serbia is an important strategic partner of Kazakhstan in Europe. This is what President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during extended talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić, who had arrived in Astana for an official visit, Qazinform News Agency reports.
You have arrived in a special, symbolical period - on the eve of the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. This is an important milestone, evidencing our sincere friendship and mutual respect. Serbia is an important strategic partner of Kazakhstan in Europe. We are ready to further deepen our relations and develop cooperation in various areas," said the President.
According to the Head of State, inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries is characterized by a high level of activity. The volume of bilateral trade is also growing.
Around 60 Serbian companies are successfully working in Kazakhstan. Yesterday, a meeting of the Kazakhstan-Serbia Business Council was held. I positively assess its results and I am confident that they will give a new impetus to the development of trade-economic and investment ties," said the Kazakh President.
He also noted the importance of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, adding that the two countries continue interacting within international organizations.
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Kazakh Foreign Minister Participates in "Central Asia + UK" Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
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At the invitation of the UK, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev, took part in the meeting of Central Asian and UK foreign ministers under the "Central Asia + UK" (CA5+UK) framework, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including opportunities for economic growth, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and develop international transport corridors.
In his remarks, Minister Kosherbayev emphasized the importance of pragmatic, mutually beneficial strategic engagement between the region and the UK, aimed at supporting economic development and sustainable growth of all participating countries.
"Kazakhstan plays a central role in regional connectivity. Thirteen major transit corridors pass through our territory and around 85% of overland cargo transport between Europe and Asia moves through Kazakhstan. The idea of the CA5+UK format stems from these priorities. Within this framework, we view the United Kingdom as a long-term partner and are committed to achieving tangible results that benefit our economies, societies, and shared future," Minister Kosherbayev added.
In her address, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted Central Asia’s significance as a dynamically developing region with steady economic growth, increasing regional cooperation, and a growing role in international affairs. The countries in the region are taking a pragmatic approach to engagement, strengthening interconnectivity, and gradually expanding their participation in shaping a modern framework for economic and political cooperation.
The discussions also focused on opportunities to align Central Asia’s resource and transit potential with the UK’s strengths in finance, regulatory standards, technology, and education.
For their part, the Central Asian foreign ministers praised the CA5+UK framework as an important platform for structured and results-oriented dialogue with the United Kingdom. They emphasized that the format has already proven effective in facilitating comprehensive discussions on regional priorities, while creating additional opportunities to promote economic initiatives and implement joint projects.
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