Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, are experiencing an extreme heatwave with temperatures reaching 46 degrees Celsius, leading to the closure of kindergartens in many regions.

Pakistan has opened new trade corridors with Iran and China, providing Central Asian countries with alternative access to Pakistani ports after key Afghan crossings were closed due to security concerns.

China, in collaboration with Central Asian countries, has initiated the five-satellite Tianwu Constellation project, a joint effort for disaster monitoring under a technology pact signed at the Urumqi expo.

Central Asian countries presented their strategies for developing critical minerals and expanding regional cooperation during the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue in Astana.

The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue, hosted in Astana, brought together senior officials from Central Asian countries and the United States, marking a new chapter in their relations.

Central Asian countries are leveraging political support from China, Europe, and the US to reduce their reliance on Russia and pursue their own national interests through diversified international cooperation.

Kazakhstan has achieved the highest ranking among Central Asian countries in the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025/26, placing 72nd globally out of 181 nations. The Astana Times reported on the country's performance in the index.

South Korean officials presented their country's experience in forest preservation to Central Asian countries in Astana, Kazakhstan, proposing a partnership to address shared environmental challenges.

Aripov has highlighted a positive trend in cooperation between Central Asian countries and the Gulf region, indicating growing ties and joint initiatives.

Experts at a conference in Astana emphasized the need for Central Asian countries to adopt a balanced energy mix, following the World Energy Council's energy trilemma, to prevent future shortages.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, together with his counterparts from Central Asian countries, met with members of the United Kingdom’s Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Cooperation with Central Asia on Feb. 25 to discuss strengthening interparliamentary engagement and expanding regional cooperation. Addressing British lawmakers, Kosherbayev underscored the importance Ka...

Kazakhstan has ranked first among Central Asian countries in the 2026 Legatum Prosperity Index, securing the 66th position out of 161 economies worldwide.

Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow is undertaking his first state-level visit to Georgia on July 16-17. The visit highlights Tbilisi's increased engagement with Central Asian countries.

A gasoline shortage in Russia has begun to impact Central Asian countries, indicating a broader regional effect.

Envoys from five Central Asian countries anticipate that the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit in September will usher in a new phase of deeper cooperation with South Korea, particularly in energy and critical minerals.

China has surpassed Russia to become the largest direct foreign investor in Central Asian countries, according to data from the Eurasian Development Bank, with significant investments in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Finland has appointed a roving ambassador to cover Central Asian countries, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties in the region.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with interior and public security ministers from China and Central Asian countries to discuss strengthening coordination on regional security and cybercrime.

Central Asian countries have shown little interest in preserving their Soviet-era architecture over the past decade, reflecting a growing distance from Moscow.

A World Bank report presented at CACCC-2026 indicates that Central Asian countries are losing billions of dollars annually due to insufficient regional cooperation. The report emphasizes the economic benefits of stronger collaboration.

The city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan is set to host a meeting of Education Ministers from the European Union and Central Asian countries.

Central Asian countries held a preparatory meeting in Almaty from February 25-27 for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026, focusing on aligning efforts for biodiversity and forest restoration.

An analysis suggests that Central Asian countries should be cautious in their approach to the United States, as the 21st-century global power struggle evolves beyond traditional hydrocarbon geopolitics.

Central Asian countries' attempts to reduce their dependence on Russia as a primary transit route for international markets since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine are being hampered by the war in the Middle East and conflicts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked first among Central Asian countries in the Global Passport Index 2026, published by…

A transit expert suggests that Russia's decision to halt westbound rail freight traffic is driven by both political and economic considerations, aiming to encourage Central Asian countries to route more cargo through Russian ports.

The external debt of Central Asian countries, excluding Turkmenistan, has increased by 34.9% over the past five years, reaching nearly $290.8 billion, with Kazakhstan holding the largest share.

Pakistan's exports to five Central Asian Countries decreased by 8.62 percent in the first 10 months of 2025-26, primarily due to the closure of the land route into Afghanistan.

A leading banker states that Hong Kong's comprehensive renminbi financial ecosystem makes it an ideal hub for Central Asian countries to expand yuan use in trade and investment.

Central Asian countries have significantly increased their renewable energy capacity, contributing to a global surge of 692 gigawatts in installations by 2025.

Ministers from Central Asian countries have met to advance cooperation on water and energy resources, aiming for regional stability and development.

Central Asian countries have signed a declaration to enhance cooperation on biodiversity conservation.

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi announced the country's goal to increase trade with Central Asian nations to US$10 billion within the next three to four years, up from the current US$2.7 billion.

Discussions were held in Helsinki regarding the future prospects of cooperation between Central Asian countries and the Nordic Council.