https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325318/feed News from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s energy security, now buttressed by internal resilience, has withstood a difficult test from the protracted war in the Middle East, says the head of a global energy industry body. “China has domestic production, it has developed a diversification policy and there is also the possibility to switch around different types of energy,” Andrea Stegher, president of the International Gas Union (IGU), told the South China Morning Post on Tuesday. Stegher said the world’s second-largest economy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372333/chinas-energy-supply-chain-withstanding-test-middle-east-war-expert-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372333/chinas-energy-supply-chain-withstanding-test-middle-east-war-expert-says Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The debate over ethnic identity in Xinjiang has triggered an online clash between Chinese and Turkish social media users. The row began earlier this month when a Turkish social media user recalled an encounter with a Uygur from Xinjiang, the region in China that is home to nearly 12 million mainly Muslim Turkic speakers. The user wrote that the woman did not look Chinese, but when asked whether she considered herself Turkic, the woman responded: “No, I’m Chinese.” The user also called on her to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372077/war-words-over-xinjiang-erupts-between-chinese-and-turkish-social-media-users https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372077/war-words-over-xinjiang-erupts-between-chinese-and-turkish-social-media-users Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is pitching the concept of “sovereign AI” in Kazakhstan – part of his global crusade urging nations to build domestic computing infrastructure using the firm’s chips – as the energy-rich nation emerges as a US-China battleground for artificial intelligence. Speaking at a fireside chat in Astana on Friday with Kazakh AI and digital development minister Zhaslan Madiyev, Huang said AI was reshaping every industry in a transformation that “affects every single person and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371946/nvidias-jensen-huang-brings-sovereign-ai-push-kazakhstan-shrugs-bubble-fears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371946/nvidias-jensen-huang-brings-sovereign-ai-push-kazakhstan-shrugs-bubble-fears Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:00:14 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Central Asia is becoming a travel hotspot thanks to its countries’ visa-free entry and improved transport connectivity, and a growing demand among travellers for crowd-free destinations. The region is surrounded by online buzz, but is it just another internet fad? We went to Uzbekistan – said to be Central Asia’s “cultural crown jewel” – to find out. From Hong Kong, we board a flight to Shanghai before connecting to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. The journey takes 15 hours in total. Direct flights... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371373/must-visit-places-uzbekistan-central-asias-cultural-crown-jewel-old-silk-road https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371373/must-visit-places-uzbekistan-central-asias-cultural-crown-jewel-old-silk-road Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Washington wanted to compete for business in Central Asia without asking countries to stop working with China, as the United States and five regional governments outlined proposals to deepen cooperation on minerals, transport and technology. Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio was asked what Washington could offer as Beijing expanded its presence in the region. “I mean, look, it’s competition, right? We have products, we have companies;... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371420/rubio-pitches-us-business-central-asia-says-china-ties-need-not-suffer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371420/rubio-pitches-us-business-central-asia-says-china-ties-need-not-suffer Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:49:39 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for deeper cooperation with Uzbekistan in areas such as minerals and artificial intelligence (AI) as Beijing vies with Washington for influence in Central Asia. Li told President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Saturday that Beijing was ready to strengthen strategic communication and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Uzbekistan. He urged the two countries to step up cooperation in energy, minerals, finance and connectivity, and deepen collaboration in fields... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371285/china-moves-cement-ties-uzbekistan-amid-tussle-us-central-asian-influence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371285/china-moves-cement-ties-uzbekistan-amid-tussle-us-central-asian-influence Sun, 18 Oct 2026 05:12:38 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When Ria Xi set off on her 20,000km (12,400-mile) endurance challenge, she had no idea what the impact on her body would be. But she was curious to find out. The Beijing-born former tech executive who used AI to develop running training plans has now developed a daily test to track her biometric data alongside memory, motivation and energy levels as she runs across Eurasia. The extraordinary journey, which began on May 1, 2026, from Vladivostok, Russia, will see Xi run the ancient Silk Road... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen In Kazakhstan’s futuristic capital Astana, car dealer Auyez Kabdygali is planning a big change to his business as he switches from importing European cars to Chinese electric vehicles. Kabdygali says there is increasing demand for Chinese EVs both from locals and Russian customers due to their competitive price and quality. His grandfather is among the converts – he has an order in for a BYD Han, the carmaker’s flagship model, and plans to collect it from a terminal on the border with China and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371232/beyond-evs-and-perception-how-china-gaining-ground-central-asia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371232/beyond-evs-and-perception-how-china-gaining-ground-central-asia Sat, 17 Oct 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The US wants to “compete” in resource-rich Central Asia, a senior American official has said as Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to head to a region of growing Chinese influence. In New Delhi on Thursday, US ambassador to India Sergio Gor said this weekend’s C5+1 ministerial meeting between the five Central Asian countries and the US in Uzbekistan would be an opportunity to “showcase American ingenuity, American technology”. Rubio would be joined by representatives from more than 200... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371033/us-wants-compete-central-asia-ambassador-says-ahead-rubio-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371033/us-wants-compete-central-asia-ambassador-says-ahead-rubio-visit Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:04:00 +0000 Bibek Bhandari Bibek Bhandari Nepal has weathered three disasters in six weeks, including the deadly August flash flood, making this year one of the deadliest in a country where monsoon rains already frequently wreak havoc. Experts warn that climate change is only making matters worse. The rock-ice avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border that opened the floodgates in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on August 26 killed more than 1,450 people, with nearly 6,000 others still missing. It was followed by a massive landslide... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3370977/inside-nepals-unending-cycle-avalanches-floods-and-landslides https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3370977/inside-nepals-unending-cycle-avalanches-floods-and-landslides Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:05 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China has pledged to expand its health partnership with Kazakhstan by helping the Central Asian nation integrate traditional medicine directly into its national healthcare system, shifting away from simple product exports. The Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan on Monday called for the alignment of high-level policy to enhance bilateral health cooperation for both countries’ benefit. “Both nations should promote the qualitative upgrading of cooperation in smart healthcare, hi-tech diagnostics and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369943/how-traditional-chinese-medicine-shaping-kazakhstans-health-system https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369943/how-traditional-chinese-medicine-shaping-kazakhstans-health-system Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:04:16 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Turkmenistan has added the FK-2000 missile-and-gun system to its growing arsenal of Chinese-made air defences, highlighting Beijing’s expanding role in the Central Asian weapons market once dominated by Russia. At least 10 FK-2000 vehicles – along with an array of other Chinese-made military equipment – could be seen in footage of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day parade in Ashgabat on September 27. Developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the FK-2000 is a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369869/turkmenistan-grows-its-arsenal-chinese-air-defences-russias-role-shrinks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369869/turkmenistan-grows-its-arsenal-chinese-air-defences-russias-role-shrinks Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The International Criminal Court on Monday gave more details about arrest warrants issued last year for two Afghan education ministers accused of committing crimes against humanity through the Taliban government’s restrictions on women and girls. The warrants, for Habibullah Agha, minister of education, and Neda Mohammad Nadeem, minister of higher education, were issued on September 9, 2025 and remained under seal until Monday. The two officials are accused of gender-based persecution linked to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3369838/icc-unseals-arrest-warrants-4-taliban-leaders-wanted-gender-persecution-charges https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3369838/icc-unseals-arrest-warrants-4-taliban-leaders-wanted-gender-persecution-charges Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:43:42 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India has sold its Akash air-defence missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, giving it a foothold in Central Asia as it seeks to become a major global arms exporter. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the latest sales on Thursday last week, hinting at interest from elsewhere as he called the Akash “one of our success stories”. Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Akash is a home-grown, short-range surface-to-air missile system that can hit... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369812/why-indias-missile-deals-central-asia-matter-russia-and-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369812/why-indias-missile-deals-central-asia-matter-russia-and-china Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:31:05 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has granted a banking licence to Bakai Bank, marking the first Central Asian bank to set up in Hong Kong amid closer ties in the economy and trade flows between China and the region, according to a statement on Monday. Bakai Bank, one of the largest lenders in Kyrgyzstan, will operate as a restricted licence bank in Hong Kong. It will be the 17th restricted licence bank in Hong Kong. Under the licence, it can take deposits of at least HK$500,000 (US$63,776)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3365704/hkma-licenses-bakai-bank-citys-first-central-asia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3365704/hkma-licenses-bakai-bank-citys-first-central-asia Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:42:58 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Eight more companies from countries belonging to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative have applied to list in Hong Kong, the city’s trade promotion chief has revealed. Frederick Ma Si-hang, chairman of the Trade Development Council, also said on Monday the city’s economy would benefit from improving China-US ties. Speaking on the sidelines of the Global Youth Powerhouse Summit, Ma said interest in Hong Kong’s capital markets from Central Asia had surged after a high-level delegation led by Chief... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369784/8-more-firms-belt-and-road-initiative-countries-apply-ipos-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369784/8-more-firms-belt-and-road-initiative-countries-apply-ipos-hong-kong Mon, 05 Oct 2026 07:55:41 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo On the edge of western China’s Taklamakan Desert, in a county where sand covers 90 per cent of the land, an unlikely harvest is heading to market: Australian freshwater crayfish. As China begins its National Day “golden week” holiday, a farm in Maigaiti county, in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region’s Kashgar prefecture, is pulling 250 to 300kg (551 to 661lbs) of the premium crustaceans from its ponds every day. Native to Australia’s rivers and streams, freshwater crayfish are now being raised... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369602/freshwater-crayfish-raised-xinjiang-desert-nip-away-chinas-food-security-fears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369602/freshwater-crayfish-raised-xinjiang-desert-nip-away-chinas-food-security-fears Sun, 04 Oct 2026 06:00:15 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Chinese troops have taken part in a mass multinational exercise in Russia featuring new anti-drone and ground robot systems – drills that Russian state media said “applied lessons” from the Ukraine war. The troops were among more than 47,000 military personnel involved in the Tsentr-2026 – or Centre-2026 – drills in the central western Chelyabinsk region from Monday until Saturday. The Russian Ministry of Defence said the strategic command-and-staff exercise applied combat lessons from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369657/chinese-troops-line-russias-tsentr-2026-exercise-military-ties-tighten https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369657/chinese-troops-line-russias-tsentr-2026-exercise-military-ties-tighten Sat, 03 Oct 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang The fields in Xinjiang’s Awati county – a cotton hub hit by US sanctions – were nearly ready for the October harvest. Yusup Molamaiti, a 36-year-old technician, recalled what it was like manually planting and harvesting 37 mu (about 2.5 hectares or 6 acres) of scattered plots of land. “Planting a single mu took up to three hours with two people laying plastic film by hand,” he said. Harvesting would lock his family into year-round labour, yielding just 250-300kg (551-661lbs) per mu. Today, his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369294/us-sanctions-forced-xinjiang-cotton-adapt-survival-comes-cost https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369294/us-sanctions-forced-xinjiang-cotton-adapt-survival-comes-cost Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Afghanistan’s defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 in the eastern province of Nuristan after a group it said included Islamic State militants travelled from Pakistan. The ministry alleged Pakistani militias ‌had supported the fighters and that most of them were former Afghan government security personnel. Pakistan’s information ministry rejected the allegations, describing them as “frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth” in a post on social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3368972/afghanistan-says-28-dead-fighters-came-pakistan-islamabad-denies-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3368972/afghanistan-says-28-dead-fighters-came-pakistan-islamabad-denies-ties Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:37:53 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Uzbekistan, with its rich history of ancient Silk Road craftsmanship and later influences from Imperial Russia to the Soviets, is a country shaped by layers of conquest, trade and intellectual exchange. At the Uzbek capital’s new Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), the inaugural exhibition – titled “Hikmah” and featuring sculptures and installations by 10 artists from around the world, including Palestine and the United States – sets out to explore the complexity of that cultural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat When I began planning a work trip to Astana this month, the first challenge was simply finding a flight. With no direct service from Hong Kong to the Kazakh capital, I could transfer in Guangzhou, Beijing, Urumqi or Seoul. I chose Guangzhou, which offered a direct flight lasting about seven and a half hours, but the limited schedule meant there was no flight on Saturday, forcing me to leave earlier than planned and spend five days in Astana. The journey offered an early glimpse of both the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368016/reporters-notebook-kazakhstan-trip-highlights-promise-and-limits-central-asia-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368016/reporters-notebook-kazakhstan-trip-highlights-promise-and-limits-central-asia-ties Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao In talks with his Iranian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday, China’s foreign minister reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Tehran, called for a political settlement to the country’s conflict with the US and warned that regional tensions must not further spill over into Yemen. Wang Yi also urged the earliest possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Abbas Araghchi’s trip to China, his second since the US launched large-scale strikes on Iran in late February, came as Washington expanded sanctions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367738/china-affirms-support-iran-warns-against-yemen-spillover https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367738/china-affirms-support-iran-warns-against-yemen-spillover Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Rick Boost Rick Boost The start and end points of the Silk Road at its historical peak are crucial to its significance. Land routes wound for thousands of miles from China over mountains and deserts, concluding in the Middle East, connecting the age’s two world leaders in scientific and economic power: the Tang dynasty and the Abbasid Caliphate. While systems of trade have radically changed in the centuries since, the modern iteration of this link, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has firmly established a new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3367524/digital-silk-road-hong-kong-acts-financial-bridge-between-china-and-mena https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3367524/digital-silk-road-hong-kong-acts-financial-bridge-between-china-and-mena Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong’s finance chief has called on Cathay Pacific Airways to offer attractive fares and expand its route network, as China’s national development plan reinforces the city’s status as a global aviation hub. Speaking at Cathay’s 80th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po described the flag carrier as more than just a transport provider, calling it an ambassador for Hong Kong that reinforced the city’s status as a global aviation hub and “superconnector”. Chan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3367632/hong-kong-finance-chief-urges-cathay-keep-fares-attractive-add-routes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3367632/hong-kong-finance-chief-urges-cathay-keep-fares-attractive-add-routes Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:22:13 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang Kazakhstan plans to launch QR-code payments with China by the end of 2026 – a move that analysts say could expand the yuan’s use beyond trade and investment into everyday transactions while offering a “gentle yet substantive” alternative to the US dollar. The decision comes as Beijing is deepening trade and financial ties under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while advancing the yuan’s use in cross-border transactions amid a broader de-dollarisation trend. The Central Asian country is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367438/china-kazakhstan-plan-qr-payments-expanding-yuans-reach-overseas-retail-purchases https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367438/china-kazakhstan-plan-qr-payments-expanding-yuans-reach-overseas-retail-purchases Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:30:33 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong last week is tangible proof that 13 years after the initiative’s launch, the city has become central to its evolution from infrastructure projects to comprehensive connectivity and hi-tech platforms. More than 6,000 participants from over 70 countries attended, signing upwards of 60 commercial agreements and memorandums of understanding exceeding US$3 billion. These are evidence of sustained confidence in Hong Kong’s unique capacity to bridge mainland... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3367309/hong-kong-cements-superconnector-role-wave-belt-and-road-deals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3367309/hong-kong-cements-superconnector-role-wave-belt-and-road-deals Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong will deepen ties with emerging economies worldwide, expanding connections with the Middle East and belt and road countries, from finance to innovation and technology, according to the finance chief. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said the city aimed to build “networked and institutionalised” connectivity with the Global South – a broad term for developing less-industrialised countries, primarily located in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Belt and road countries are nations... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367352/hong-kong-deepen-ties-global-south-and-middle-east-finance-chief-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367352/hong-kong-deepen-ties-global-south-and-middle-east-finance-chief-says Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:57:38 +0000 Jen Paolini Jen Paolini Even at more than 120 years old, there are still firsts for the South China Morning Post. One of them was this month’s anticipated debut of our signature China Conference business, trade and investment forum in Astana, Kazakhstan. In honour of that milestone, and the exciting developments brewing in this fast-flourishing region, the curation for this issue includes two tales from Central Asia. Hei Kiu Au saddles up for a journey to the Great Steppe, where a father and son have raised a monument... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/article/3367205/week-postmag-guqin-revival-odes-central-asia-and-peek-puyis-last-days-emperor https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/article/3367205/week-postmag-guqin-revival-odes-central-asia-and-peek-puyis-last-days-emperor Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Kazakhstan’s businesses should prioritise long-term fundraising ambitions rather than quick wins in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese markets, a managing director of the Central Asian country’s sovereign wealth fund has said. Saltanat Satzhan, managing director for development and privatisation at Samruk-Kazyna, said she also aimed to have state-owned rail operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) listed in Hong Kong by the end of the year. KTZ, wholly owned by the government through the fund, has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367134/kazakh-firms-eyeing-hong-kong-mainland-china-markets-urged-take-long-term-view https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367134/kazakh-firms-eyeing-hong-kong-mainland-china-markets-urged-take-long-term-view Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Christina Zhao Ralph Jennings,Christina Zhao Expanding use of the Chinese yuan in fast-growing Central Asia, where China is a top investor, can reduce risks and costs for infrastructure firms, part of a broader trend that sees the currency gaining ground wherever commercial flows create demand for it, according to speakers on an investment panel in Hong Kong on Thursday. Smoother access to the yuan would lower risks inherent in currency exchanges, particularly when the more internationalised US dollar is trending strong, and bring down the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3367078/investment-surge-central-asia-drives-calls-expanded-use-chinese-yuan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3367078/investment-surge-central-asia-drives-calls-expanded-use-chinese-yuan Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s policy address next week will continue with measures to help local news outlets expand overseas and build global networks, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Thursday that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s “go global” initiative would assist local media, which report in Chinese and English, in reaching readers beyond the city. The industry could offer media services particularly in countries that came under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367091/hong-kong-policy-address-continue-push-helping-local-media-go-global https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367091/hong-kong-policy-address-continue-push-helping-local-media-go-global Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:53:20 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong China and Russia’s negotiations regarding the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline have stalled, according to multiple sources who have knowledge of the issue, as both sides cannot bridge a big gap over gas price expectations. “China hopes to secure a price comparable to Russia’s subsidised residential rate, around US$50/thousand cubic metres, or at least the domestic industrial rate of about US$120-130/thousand cubic metres,” said one source, who asked for anonymity due to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366888/power-siberia-2-pipeline-talks-stall-over-china-russia-price-dispute-sources https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366888/power-siberia-2-pipeline-talks-stall-over-china-russia-price-dispute-sources Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Kazakhstan has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong’s transport authorities to establish a laboratory and discussed low-altitude economy initiatives to help manage traffic jams. Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Kazakhstan’s vice-minister of artificial intelligence and digital development, told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday about discussions with the team of Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Summit in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366910/hong-kong-kazakhstan-sign-mou-transport-lab-discuss-low-altitude-economy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366910/hong-kong-kazakhstan-sign-mou-transport-lab-discuss-low-altitude-economy Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:04:47 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong will continue to serve as a gateway linking belt and road economies with mainland China and global markets, the chief executive has said, underscoring the city’s role in bringing together capital, talent and businesses to advance the national initiative. Speaking at the opening of the annual Belt and Road Summit on Wednesday, John Lee Ka-chiu said more than 60 government and business agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) would be signed during the event, with the total... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366864/hong-kong-2-way-springboard-between-mainland-china-and-world-john-lee https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366864/hong-kong-2-way-springboard-between-mainland-china-and-world-john-lee Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:01:48 +0000 Nigel Li Nigel Li When President Xi Jinping announced the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, the sprawling network of new railways and highways branching out from China across Eurasia was just imaginary lines on a map. This year, the total volume of China’s BRI investments reached US$1.3 trillion, with a 257 per cent spike in Central Asia compared to last year, and many of those lines are no longer imaginary. The five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366783/how-chinese-investment-driving-central-asias-green-energy-boom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366783/how-chinese-investment-driving-central-asias-green-energy-boom Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s expanding engagement with Central Asia represents more than a commercial drive. It signals a strategic recalibration that, if pursued with discipline and realism, could position the city as an indispensable bridge between East and Central Asia at a moment when traditional corridors of trade and exchange face mounting strain. Both sides must now move beyond aspirational declarations to overcome challenges constraining regional commerce. The concrete outcomes Chief Executive John Lee... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366738/hong-kong-and-central-asia-real-work-lies-ahead https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366738/hong-kong-and-central-asia-real-work-lies-ahead Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Richard Lord Richard Lord In the almost 35 years since leaving the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan has been gradually privatising its numerous state-owned assets. The pace of change has been uneven, but the political will seems to be there – and this desire to attract foreign capital could provide Hong Kong with a huge opportunity. The economies of Kazakhstan and China have long been intertwined. The sprawling Central Asian nation to China’s northwest was once a vital node on the ancient Silk Road, and today it plays an equally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366774/kazakhstans-privatisation-push-offers-new-ipo-opportunities-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366774/kazakhstans-privatisation-push-offers-new-ipo-opportunities-hong-kong Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick When the Belt and Road Initiative is discussed, the imagery is often concrete: ports, railways, motorways and transmission lines. But across Hong Kong, a parallel form of connectivity is playing out in galleries, concert halls, classrooms and studios. At the Hong Kong Palace Museum, visitors have been encountering thousands of years of Chinese art and history alongside “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums”, which brought 250 objects from Africa to West Kowloon. In September,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:30:09 +0000 Andrew Gundal Andrew Gundal When the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway took place in December 2024, it marked the end of a nearly 30-year-long diplomatic journey. First discussed in Paris in 1997, the project had languished for decades, a symbol of unrealised potential in a disconnected, landlocked region. Now finally under construction, it is one of the most audacious projects in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The CKU promises economic transformation in an underdeveloped... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366768/how-china-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-railway-reshaping-eurasian-trade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366768/how-china-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-railway-reshaping-eurasian-trade Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:00:11 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s top police officer has pledged deeper cooperation with his Central Asian counterparts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, while strengthening measures to protect Belt and Road Initiative investments. Presiding over an informal meeting of the China-Central Asia Public Security and Interior Ministers’ mechanism in Beijing, Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong on Monday urged his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366751/china-rallies-central-asian-police-chiefs-terrorism-threats-energy-and-trade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366751/china-rallies-central-asian-police-chiefs-terrorism-threats-energy-and-trade Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:58:59 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong firms could look to Kazakhstan as a base for advanced manufacturing and as a gateway to Europe, while the city’s robust capital markets could attract businesses in the Central Asian country, a diplomat and business adviser has said. Sabr Yessimbekov, adviser to the chairman of the presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, told the South China Morning Post on the sidelines of the inaugural China Conference: Central Asia 2026 that some projects in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366710/hong-kong-boon-kazakhstans-advanced-manufacturing-ambitions-ties-europe-expert https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366710/hong-kong-boon-kazakhstans-advanced-manufacturing-ambitions-ties-europe-expert Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:00:13 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Kazakhstan has recorded the largest student population and fastest enrolment growth at Hong Kong’s public universities among Central Asian countries in recent years, according to official data, while students from the country say the city is the most preferred regional higher education destination in Asia among their peers. Among Hong Kong’s tertiary education institutions, City University (CityU) enrolled the largest share of Kazakhstani students. CityU council chairman Michael Ngai Ming-tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3366700/hong-kong-emerges-leading-asian-study-destination-kazakhstani-students https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3366700/hong-kong-emerges-leading-asian-study-destination-kazakhstani-students Tue, 08 Sep 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu When Cathay Pacific Airways announced direct flights to Almaty starting next January, the significance went beyond adding another destination. The service will be Cathay Pacific’s first to Central Asia and the only non-stop passenger connection between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. Another announcement pointed to Hong Kong’s growing aviation reach from a different direction. Qatar Airways Cargo relocated its regional office to Hong Kong and agreed with the Airport Authority to increase frequencies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366027/hong-kong-aviation-success-today-means-more-just-adding-routes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366027/hong-kong-aviation-success-today-means-more-just-adding-routes Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The Chinese mining firm that carried out the first Hong Kong-Kazakhstan dual stock exchange listing after a tough start in the industry could motivate many more initial public offerings (IPOs) by peers who are keen on the Central Asian country’s extensive mineral deposits, a financial official said on Monday. The dual listing of Jiaxin International Resources Investment last year established a “proof of concept”, said Renat Bekturov, governor of Kazakhstan’s Astana International Financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366674/jiaxins-hong-kong-kazakhstan-listing-paves-way-mining-peers-official-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366674/jiaxins-hong-kong-kazakhstan-listing-paves-way-mining-peers-official-says Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:00:17 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial President Xi Jinping has begun a month of travel expected to lead to the United States and a summit with President Donald Trump. That contrasts with the earlier part of the year which saw Xi hardly going anywhere but staying in Beijing. Instead, he hosted foreign leaders who flocked to meet him, including those of middle powers such as Britain, Germany, Canada and Spain, as they looked beyond an unpredictable American president and mixed signals from Washington. This reflects the growing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366616/chinas-xi-sends-strong-message-his-us-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366616/chinas-xi-sends-strong-message-his-us-visit Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Kazakhstan is aiming to become an education powerhouse in Central Asia but efforts must also ensure young people have sufficient access to opportunities that match their skill sets amid the country’s rapid economic transformation, experts have said. Educators and advocates added that further collaboration with Hong Kong and mainland Chinese universities was in the pipeline, with growing demand for specialists who understood the business environments of both Kazakhstan and China. The comments... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3366687/kazakhstan-aims-become-education-hub-experts-say-jobs-must-match-skills https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3366687/kazakhstan-aims-become-education-hub-experts-say-jobs-must-match-skills Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:14:24 +0000 Neil Denslow Neil Denslow Kazakhstan and Hong Kong could partner to build biotech unicorns – private start-ups valued at US$1 billion or more – by linking the Central Asian country’s strong tech workforce with the city’s global financial network, a top academic has said. Huck-Hui Ng, dean of the school of medicine at Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University, said the nascent biotech sector in the country has already produced several start-ups in areas including artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, and could build a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366686/kazakhstan-hong-kong-can-build-biotech-unicorns-linking-talent-and-capital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366686/kazakhstan-hong-kong-can-build-biotech-unicorns-linking-talent-and-capital Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:53:57 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat About three months after Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited Central Asia, momentum is building for closer economic ties between the city and the region, with potential cooperation extending beyond finance to tourism, professional services, mining, agriculture and digital infrastructure. Government officials and senior figures from the industrial, investment and financial sectors discussed the prospects at the South China Morning Post’s inaugural China Conference: Central Asia... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366685/hong-kong-central-asia-push-deeper-economic-ties-beyond-finance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366685/hong-kong-central-asia-push-deeper-economic-ties-beyond-finance Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:38:58 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen His summit with US President Donald Trump is just over two weeks away, but already this month Xi Jinping has had one of his busiest stretches of diplomatic travel in recent years. First he wrapped up the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and then he made a state visit to Egypt. Xi is expected to head off again later this week to visit New Delhi for the Brics summit before he travels to Washington. Beijing has not yet confirmed those two trips, in line with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366643/clock-counts-down-trump-summit-xi-boosts-global-clout-diplomatic-blitz https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366643/clock-counts-down-trump-summit-xi-boosts-global-clout-diplomatic-blitz Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:00:11 +0000