Central Asia

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered radical reform of the country's military, according to reports from Astana. The directive signals an overhaul of the armed forces' structure and operations, though details of the measures have not yet been outlined. Observers are watching closely for what the changes will mean for Central Asia's largest military.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.

China plans to open new manufacturing facilities in Kazakhstan, including plants producing robots, cars and pharmaceuticals. The projects deepen economic and industrial cooperation between the two neighbours and fit Kazakhstan's push to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy beyond raw materials. The announcement is drawing attention across regional media as a sign of expanding Chinese industrial presence in Central Asia.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev held a meeting with Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission. The talks signal continued engagement between Central Asia and the European Union, though details of the agenda and outcomes have not yet been disclosed by either side.

Uzbekistan is hosting the fifth Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, an international gathering focused on human rights issues. An opinion piece on the event highlights the country's use of the forum to present itself as a growing voice on rights issues in Central Asia. The event continues Samarkand's role as a recurring venue for international human rights dialogue.

Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services as it seeks new markets and partners in the region.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Berlin, where he promoted his country's wealth of raw materials. German companies are seeking to expand their business in Central Asia, putting them in sharp competition with Russia, China, the United States and other powers for influence and access to the resource-rich region.

Central Asian countries are holding discussions on establishing shared rules for the digital economy and artificial intelligence across the region. The talks, reported by Kazakhstan-based outlet the Astana Times, point to growing interest in coordinating technology policy among neighbouring states rather than regulating digital markets and AI individually. Details on specific proposals, participating governments, or timelines have not yet been made public.

A new analysis argues Central Asian states should look past the Eurasian Economic Union and build their own common market. The piece suggests that deeper regional integration among Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan could serve their interests better than reliance on the Russia-led bloc. The argument is drawing attention as the region reconsiders its economic alignments.

Lazada says it is pursuing an 'earlier rather than later' approach to expanding its e-commerce operations across Southeast Asia, laying out plans to strengthen its market position in the region. The Singapore-based platform, owned by Alibaba, discussed how early investment in markets, logistics and seller services is central to its bid to outpace regional rivals.