Eurasia News Digest (16-31 January, 2024)

Russia & Central Asia

New International Trade & Logistics Center Opens on Kazakh-Chinese Border

A new international trade and logistics center opened on Jan. 19 on the Kazakh-Chinese border, near the village of Dostyk, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service. The new facility is supposed to develop and improve cross-border logistics infrastructure and increase the capacity of the Alakol road crossing. The new storage facility will triple the capacity of the Alakol checkpoint of the Dostyk customs from 200 to 600 freight vehicles per day. This expansion will boost the daily cargo turnover from 4,000 to 12,000 tons and contribute to an overall increase in cargo turnover from 1 to 3 million tons. Click here to read... [2]

Kazakhstan and Italy Signed Documents for $1.5 Billion

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the investment round table "Kazakhstan – Italy" in Rome as part of his official visit to the country. As a result of the round table, 18 commercial agreements on joint investment projects in various sectors of the economy totaling more than $1.5 billion were signed. The event was organized with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Italy, and JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST." Click here to read... [3]

President Mirziyoyev Meets Xi Jinping on State Visit to China

The Uzbek president’s state visit started on January 24 with a meeting with the Premier of the State Council, Li Qiang, wherein they discussed the expansion of economic interaction, participation of Chinese companies in privatization in Uzbekistan, increasing the number of flights, and other issues. Many important points were raised at the meeting, such as the 50% increase in trade turnover between China and Uzbekistan over the past year, reaching $14 billion, and the volume of Chinese investment in the Uzbek economy exceeding this same figure. The two parties set their sights on making this figure reach $20 billion. As planned within the framework of the state visit, Mirziyoyev also held meetings with a number of major Chinese corporations important for Uzbekistan. Click here to read... [4]

BYD launches production at its plant in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited BYD's Shenzhen headquarters on January 25 and met with the NEV maker's chairman and president Wang Chuanfu, BYD. Mirziyoyev and Wang participated remotely in a production launch ceremony at BYD's Uzbekistan plant and witnessed the first vehicle produced at the facility -- a Song Plus DM-i -- roll off the assembly line. At the same time, Wang delivered to Mirziyoyev BYD's 10,000th NEV in Uzbekistan, a Yangwang U8. Yangwang is BYD's premium brand launched in January 2023, with the first model, the Yangwang U8, going on sale in China in September 2023 at a starting price of RMB 1.098 million ($153,000). Click here to read... [5]

Global Gateway: €10 billion commitment to invest in Trans Caspian Transport Corridor connecting Europe and Central Asia announced at Investors Forum

The Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity opened on 29 January in Brussels, bringing together governments, financing institutions, businesses and civil society from Europe, Central Asia and beyond. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has underlined the urgency to find alternative reliable efficient trade routes between Europe and Asia that do not transit Russia. In addition to opening new possibilities for businesses, the development of transport connectivity is also a means to strengthen the regional integration and economic development of Central Asia. This is why the Investors Forum focuses on transport connections that comply with all aspects of sustainability, in line with the trusted connectivity principles of Global Gateway. The €10 billion commitment is a mixture of ongoing and planned investments which, following extensive consultations with international partners present at the Forum, the European Commission foresees to be mobilised for sustainable transport development in Central Asia in the short term. Click here to read... [6]

Kazakhstan to Deploy Troops in MEA for UN Peace Missions

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed deployment of a contingent of troops to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region for United Nations missions. The proposal put forward during the joint meeting of the houses of the Parliament on January 19, received unanimous support from deputies, paving the way for Kazakhstan to contribute up to 430 military personnel to various UN peacekeeping missions. The Kazakh troops will participate in the UN Observer Force for Disengagement in the Golan Heights (UNDOF, Syria - Israel), UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO, Palestine - Israel), UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS, South Sudan), and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA, Sudan). Click here to read... [7]

Kazakhstan-China Railways Witness 22% Growth in Cargo Transportation Volumes

Cargo transportation volumes between Kazakhstan and China railways surged by 22%, reaching 28 million tons, reported Kazakhstan Railways’ (KTZ) press service on Jan.25.The operational freight turnover saw a 7% increase compared to the previous year, reaching 269 billion ton-kilometers. Transit container shipments surpassed one million twenty-foot equivalent units, marking a 13.5% rise from last year. The statement highlighted significant progress in track repair work during 2023, with 1,443 kilometers of railway track renovated, which is twice more than in 2022. Construction projects initiated encompass the railway lines Darbaza – Maktaaral, Bakhty – Ayagoz (with the opening of the third border crossing with China), and a bypass line around Almaty. Over 300 kilometers of second tracks were laid on the Dostyk – Moiynty section. The Xi’an Dry Port, a crucial Chinese transport and logistics hub, saw the construction of a freight terminal for Kazakhstan. Click here to read... [8]

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Intend to Expand Allied Relations

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Kyrgyz President SadyrJaparov expressed mutual interest in expanding allied relations at a Jan. 29 meeting during Nurtleu’s first official visit to Bishkek, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. During negotiations with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, Nurtleu touched on a wide range of bilateral issues, prioritizing the aforementioned sectors. The ministers expressed mutual commitment to deepen the alliance on the principles of friendship, brotherhood, respect and good neighborliness. Emphasizing the importance of the trustful dialogue at the highest levels, the parties paid special attention to the agreements reached during President Japarov’s state visit to Kazakhstan in March 2021 and President Tokayev’s official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic in May 2022. Click here to read... [9]

Will Construction of Kyrgyzstan’s “Chinese Railroad” Start This Year?

The new railroad will be important not only for the three named countries through which it will pass; it will also shorten the route from East Asia to the Middle East and Southern Europe. The total length of the Kyrgyz branch will be 280 kilometers. It’s worth noting that Beijing had developed a feasibility study for this project back in the early 2000s, whereby the route was first determined. The Chinese study proposed building a shorter route across Kyrgyz territory, which would have been about 250 kilometers. But Kyrgyz authorities at the time proposed lengthening the route by over 100 kilometers in order to add Kyrgyz villages to the route — thereby securing access to the economic benefits of the railroad for more citizens. Click here to read... [10]

Iran and the South Caucasus

Türkiye, Iran Ink 10 Economic Cooperation Deals

Türkiye and Iran have signed 10 cooperation documents to increase investment and economic cooperation, during President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Ankara. Agreements were signed in the fields of rail and air transportation, electricity, energy, economic and free trade zones, culture, media and communication. President Raisi and his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were present at the signing of the deals, following the 8th meeting of the Türkiye-Iran High-Level Cooperation Council on January 24, the official website of the Iranian president reported.President Erdogan said at a joint press conference with President Raisi that Türkiye is “determined to reach the $30 billion trade target with Iran”. Click here to read... [11]

Georgia, Armenia Sign 'Strategic Partnership' Agreement During Pashinian Visit

South Caucasus neighbors Georgia and Armenia signed a “strategic partnership” memorandum during a visit to Tbilisi by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on January 26, Georgian Premier Irakli Garibashvili said. "Historically, we are very strong allies, not only neighbours, but friends,” he said. “We have a good partnership in all areas. De facto we were strategic friends and partners. Today, this has been [made official].” The leaders didn't disclose specifics of the agreement. Tbilisi and Yerevan generally have friendly relations but rivalries occasionally lead to tensions between the two nations. Georgia has offered to help mediate bitter disputes between Armenian and Azerbaijan. Click here to read... [12]

Armenian prime minister proposes non-aggression pact to Azerbaijan

Yerevan and Baku have fought two wars -- in 2020 and in the 1990s -- over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured in a lightning offensive last year."We have presented Azerbaijan with a proposal for a mutual arms control mechanism and the signing of a non-aggression pact if the signature of a peace treaty encounters delays," Pashinyan said in a speech during an Armenian Army Day celebration event. Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had previously said that a peace agreement could have been signed by the end of the last year. But internationally mediated peace talks have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Click here to read... [13]

UAE’s EDGE Group, Turkey’s Baykar to put Emirati payloads on Turkish drones

The Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group announced today it is teaming up with drone maker Baykar to arm the Turkish firm’s unmanned aerial vehicles with Emirati payloads. Under the agreement, EDGE said it will integrate its DESERT STING 16 “precision-guided munitions” onto Baykar’s TB2 drone, the model that rose to international prominence in the early days of the conflict in Ukraine. A dramatic video published online by EDGE appeared to show one missile already installed on a TB2. Click here to read... [14]

The Prime Minister and Chairman of Georgia's ruling party are set to exchange positions

According to Georgian government media outlet Imedi, the current chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, is set to be nominated for the position of the country’s prime minister. Simultaneously, the incumbent Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, will assume the role of party chairman. Additionally, Irakli Kobakhidze will be appointed as the party’s political secretary. As per Imedi’s report, during the political council meeting of the Georgian Dream on January 24, it was determined that the party congress will convene on February 1. Click here to read... [15]

Iran, Armenia call for further cooperation

Head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Kamal Kharrazi held talks with high-profile Armenian officials, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to review the expansion of Tehran and Yerevan ties in several spheres. Underscoring the vitality of Kharrazi’s visit to his country, Pashinyan expressed optimism that Kharrazi’s visit will open a new chapter for more growth in the development and consolidation of ties between the two nations. During the meeting, the two officials reviewed numerous issues including bilateral political and economic ties, cooperation in the field of energy and infrastructure, implementation of joint projects and other areas of cooperation as well. Other issues pertinent to security, peace and sustainable stability in the South Caucasus were also discussed during the visit. Click here to read... [16]