01 октября 2026

Hong Kong, September 24, 2026 – The annual ASEAN Film Festival hosted a screening of the Kazakh musical film "In the Arms of Happiness". This creative project showcased Kazakhstan's rich culture to the audience and marked a significant step in strengthening humanitarian ties between Central and Southeast Asia. The screening brought together diplomats, cultural figures, international cinephiles, and members of the local Kazakh community.

In his welcoming remarks, the Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong, Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov, noted that the language of cinema serves as a unique tool for cultural diplomacy. According to him, participating in a festival of this scale helps establish a vibrant dialogue between nations and opens up new facets of contemporary Kazakh cinema for an international audience.

The Kazakh film was presented to Hong Kong viewers by director and producer Sanat Shapashov, producer and co-writer Anel Ospanova, costume designer Gulmaral Tokanbekova, and lead actors Dauren Sergazin and Aliya Telebarisova.

Following the screening, the crew and cast held a Q&A session with the audience. The musical atmosphere of the film, inspired by the heritage of the legendary Kazakh composer Shamshi Kaldayakov, resonated deeply with the guests. The audience highly praised the film's national color, emotional depth, and inspiring, constructive message.

The creative team's visit to Hong Kong concluded with a warm meeting with compatriots and students. In an open dialogue format, the filmmakers shared behind-the-scenes insights, discussed the development of the domestic film industry, and spoke about their future plans, giving the Kazakh diaspora a proud sense of connection to their homeland.

11 сентября 2026

Hong Kong, September 9 – Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR John KC Lee held bilateral talks within the framework of the 11th Belt and Road Summit. The parties discussed the practical implementation of the agreements reached during John Lee's visit to Kazakhstan in June this year. The main topic was combining the transit potential of the RK and the financial expertise of Hong Kong in the implementation of joint projects in the fields of transport and logistics, industry, mining sector, finance, digitalization, and investment.

Kazakhstan, which accounts for about 85% of land-based rail freight transport between China and Europe, is actively developing the Middle Corridor and a network of overseas terminals. A.Shakkaliyev proposed to launch a unique cooperation format – a "triangle" of "Kazakhstan and Central Asia – Mainland China – Hong Kong". This model will allow combining the resources of Central Asia, the production capacities of the PRC, and the capital of Hong Kong.

The initiative is backed by powerful economic growth: in the first half of 2026, mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong grew 2.6 times, reaching $250.6 million. John Lee fully supported this approach, calling Kazakhstan a promising gateway to the Central Asian market.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed on the direct development of investment projects involving Hong Kong companies.

11 сентября 2026

We, the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (hereinafter referred to as the “CANWFZ Treaty”), on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the CANWFZ Treaty in Semipalatinsk

reaffirming our commitment to humanity’s common goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, and recognizing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use or testing of nuclear weapons,

emphasizing that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones is one of the most powerful universal tools for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and strengthening the global disarmament process,

noting the importance of the Treaty between the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation for Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century in strengthening peace and security in the region,

recalling that the idea of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia was first proposed by the Republic of Uzbekistan in September 1993 at the 48th session of the UN General Assembly,

convinced that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia represents a successful example of the consolidation of efforts by the countries of the region, and emphasizing that this was an important step toward strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime and the process of nuclear disarmament, regional and international peace and security, as well as the development of cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the environmental rehabilitation of areas affected by radioactive contamination,

welcoming the thirty-fifth anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and paying tribute to the memory of the numerous victims of nuclear explosions and their consequences in all regions of the world,

we hereby declare the following:

1. We reaffirm our commitment to the historically significant CANWFZ Treaty, signed by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on 8 September 2006, in Semipalatinsk. As the result of collective efforts of all five Central Asian states in their aspiration to ensure security, stability and peace in the region, and as it remains the first and only such zone located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and directly bordering two nuclear-weapon States, the Semipalatinsk Treaty continues to play an important role in strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime and serves as a symbolic example of Central Asia’s transformation from a region where nuclear weapons were once actively tested and deployed into one of the leaders of global efforts toward nuclear disarmament.
2. We reaffirm the key role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and, ultimately, to achieve their complete elimination. In this regard, we regret that the Eleventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the NPT concluded without adopting substantive outcomes, reflecting continuing differences and a lack of trust in the field of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. We call on all NPT parties to continue negotiations in good faith on the effective implementation of obligations under all three interrelated and mutually reinforcing pillars – nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
3. In light of the urgent and unprecedented challenges threatening global security and stability, we express serious concern over the lack of substantial progress in the field of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article 6 of the NPT, as well as the cessation of key arms control agreements, coupled with an alarming trend toward the modernization of nuclear arsenals. At the same time, we note the special responsibility of nuclear-weapon States to engage in negotiations on nuclear disarmament and call for the urgent development of new, verifiable arms control mechanisms to prevent a nuclear arms race.
4. We affirm our unwavering support for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in implementing the provisions of the NPT, promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and applying safeguards and monitoring of nuclear programs in the Agency’s member states.
5. We firmly advocate for the necessity of the earliest entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) which will mark exactly thirty years since its opening for signature on 24 September 2026. In this regard, we emphasize the need to preserve and further strengthen the international norm against nuclear testing and call for refraining from any actions that could undermine this norm.

We emphasize the important role of raising awareness on disarmament and non-proliferation in fostering a culture of peace, trust and responsibility, and note the particular importance of involving the youth in discussions on disarmament and international security. We support the continued promotion of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, initiated by the Kyrgyz Republic and symbolically observed annually on 5 March – the date the NPT entered into force – as well as related regional educational initiatives.

In this regard, we note the relevance of the recommendations contained in the UN Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, as well as the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, “Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament.”

6. We welcome the signing on 6 May 2014 by the nuclear-weapon States of the Protocol on Negative Security Assurances to the Treaty on the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and its ratification by four nuclear-weapon states, and we express our hope for the earliest completion of the ratification process for the Protocol by the United States of America.
7. We express our interest in the institutional development of the CANWFZ Treaty and in expanding further partnerships with existing nuclear-weapon-free zones with the aim of strengthening the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and uniting international efforts to ensure peace and security. In this context, we welcome the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with the African Commission on Atomic Energy (AFCONE) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), as well as the holding in Astana on August 28–29, 2024, under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, of the second meeting of representatives of all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones.
8. We note the great importance of strengthening regional security as a key factor for sustainable development and stability in Central Asia, and we reaffirm our intention to continue to cooperate closely in addressing common challenges and threats.
9. We support efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in regions where they do not currently exist, including in the Middle East.
10. We welcome the adoption of the resolution “Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia” at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly as well as the holding, of an anniversary meeting of the Treaty’s participating States in Ashgabat on 5 December 2024, under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship, with the participation of representatives of other existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and international organizations.

08 сентября 2026

Hong Kong, September 8, 2026 — On September 9–10, 2026, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will host the annual 11th Belt and Road Summit, jointly organized by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. This year, the Summit is themed "Meticulous Development - Embarking on a New Journey" and serves as a premier global platform for deepening economic and trade ties, multilateral partnerships, and market integration across the Silk Road region.

Kazakhstan will take an active part as a pivotal link in the implementation of this initiative and a strategic partner in the development of transcontinental connectivity. The Kazakhstani delegation at the summit will be led by the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, A. Shakkaliyev.

The forum will bring together over 6,000 participants, including government officials, investors, and top executives from more than 70 countries. The program features over 800 business matching sessions and presentations of more than 300 investment projects. Industry experts will discuss global strategies in infrastructure, sustainable finance, digital technologies, and the development of logistics corridors.

We look forward to welcoming all participants and partners at the summit in Hong Kong to shape a sustainable future together!

12 августа 2026

Hong Kong, August 7, 2026 – A Forum on the topic "Legal and Professional Services to Facilitate the Entry of Chinese Enterprises into the Market of Kazakhstan" was held in Hong Kong, organized by the Asia-Pacific Legal Association with the participation of representatives of government justice authorities, development institutions, heads of leading consulting companies, and top managers of Chinese business.

The Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong, Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov, delivered a welcoming address to the participants, noting the activation of trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong and the increased investment attractiveness of our country for Hong Kong capital in the current year. The Kazakh diplomat emphasized that a significant momentum to the development of relations was provided by the visit of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, to Kazakhstan, which took place in June of this year. The Hong Kong delegation included more than 70 representatives of large businesses, and 61 agreements were signed for a total amount of over 1.6 billion US dollars, in connection with which the Consul General invited Hong Kong entrepreneurs to further expand their presence in the market of Kazakhstan.

The Deputy Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, also took part in the work of the forum, emphasizing in his speech the role of Hong Kong as the main "financial gateway" for Chinese companies entering the markets of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Also, Mr. H.Cheung noted that the vast experience of Hong Kong law firms in English law provides a solid legal basis for concluded transactions and the deepening of bilateral partnership.

The presentation of Shaimerden Chikanaev, a partner of the Kazakhstani law firm "Grata International" and an expert in the field of international law, aroused particular interest among the participants. In his report, he familiarized the participants with the specifics of the legal regulation of entrepreneurial activity in Kazakhstan, as well as with the mechanisms for protecting the rights of investors.

It is necessary to note that the Forum demonstrated the interest of Hong Kong business circles in expanding their presence in the Kazakhstani market not only in financial and economic activities, but also in the legal sphere. Following the meetings, the participants expressed their desire to build a system of legal support for the development of large-scale investment interaction between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

29 июля 2026

The international Comic Con Astana festival will take place in the capital from August 6 to 9. British-Spanish actor Taz Skylar will be among the headline guests of the major event, according to the official website of the Astana city administration.

The actor gained international recognition for his role as Sanji - a chef, martial artist, and one of the key members of the Straw Hat Pirates - in Netflix’s live-action series One Piece.

In addition, Taz Skylar is known for his roles in the film and television series Boiling Point, directed by Philip Barantini, the action thriller Cleaner, the war drama The Kill Team, and the detective comedy series Agatha Raisin.

Skylar is also a screenwriter, director, and producer, and is actively involved in extreme sports.

The actor is expected to appear on the main stage of Comic Con Astana, answer questions from fans, and take part in autograph and photo sessions.

As part of Comic Con Astana 2026, South Korean K-pop group Kandis, which represented the Republic of Korea at the international television singing competition Silk Way Star in Kazakhstan, is also expected to perform.

Comic Con Astana is the largest contemporary pop culture festival in Central Asia and annually brings together fans of films, television series, anime, comics, video games, cosplay, and modern pop culture from around the world. This year, the festival will once again be held across two venues - Barys Arena and the Alau Ice Palace.

The international cosplay competition, featuring a prize pool of 20 million tenge, will once again be one of the festival's traditional highlights.

Tickets for Comic Con Astana are available on the festival’s official website at comicconastana.kz.

29 июля 2026

Astana will host Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026) Powered by Samruk-Kazyna from 29 July to 9 August 2026. The international multisport tournament will bring together esports, traditional sports and cutting-edge technology through a distinctive “phygital” competition format.

More than 800 athletes representing over 50 nationalities will compete across eight official disciplines. Phygital competitions combine digital and physical stages: participants first compete in a virtual environment before continuing the contest in physical sporting arenas, including football pitches, basketball courts, martial arts venues and dance stages. Final standings are determined by athletes’ combined performances across both stages.

Competition Schedule

• Phygital Basketball presented by Halyk Fund: 29 July – 3 August
• Battle Royale (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS) presented by Alatau City Bank: 31 July – 2 August
• MOBA PC (Dota 2) presented by CenterCredit: 2–5 August
• Phygital Shooter (CS2) presented by Yandex Go: 4–8 August
• Phygital Football (UFL) presented by Samruk-Kazyna: 4–9 August
• MOBA Mobile (MLBB) presented by Freedom: 6–9 August
• Phygital Dancing Presented by Solidcore Resources: 6–7 August
• Phygital Fighting presented by Kazzinc: 8 August

The tournament will feature prominent teams and clubs from the worlds of traditional sports and esports, including Team Spirit, T1, Team Falcons, Boca Juniors, Valencia Basket, LGD.Pinghu and NOVAQ.

Kazakhstan will be represented in all eight disciplines by teams and athletes including ACF x Allur, UEL Team, GTB KZ, PBC Astana, Future Nomads, Rune Eaters, DIGA Esports, NOVAQ, TeamKZ and Gulnaz Amangali.

The opening ceremony will take place on 29 July at 17:00 Astana time. It will feature AI-powered visuals, large-scale LED installations, laser and lighting effects, robotic elements and an immersive stage production.

The ceremony will be broadcast live in Kazakhstan on the Zhibek Zholy, Qazsport and Khabar television channels. International audiences will be able to watch it live on the official GOTF Astana 2026 Powered by Samruk-Kazyna YouTube channel and through the Phygital+ platform.

Competition Venues

The competitions will be held at four major sporting venues in Astana:

• QAZAQSTAN Athletics Sports Complex
• Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace
• BEELINE ARENA National Tennis Centre
• Barys Arena

Tickets are available from the tournament’s official ticketing partner, Freedom Ticketon, and through the Freedom SuperApp.

15 июня 2026

Astana, April 1, 2026

The International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue (ICIID) hosted an international online conference titled “The Role of Religious Leaders in Achieving Sustainable Peace and Development.” During the event, the Center presented two concept documents to its international partners: the “Ethical Code for the Use of Artificial Intelligence” and “The Role of Religions in Combating Climate Change.”

The conference brought together representatives of religious organizations, academic institutions, expert communities, and international organizations from Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Russia, Argentina, Thailand, North Macedonia, and India. Discussions focused on implementing the 2025 Astana Peace Declaration and the Development Concept of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for 2023–2033.

Opening the conference, Maksat Ramankulov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of state-confessional partnerships. He noted that the Kazakhstani model demonstrates how civil peace demands joint efforts from both secular institutions and religious communities.

Gulsana Kozhabay, Chair of the Center's Board, emphasized that while faith-based diplomacy does not resolve every conflict, it helps preserve dialogue during periods of acute tension. Referring to the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana in September 2025, she noted that Jewish and Muslim representatives remained at the same table and continued their engagement despite heightened sensitivities regarding developments in the Middle East.

She also stressed the need to transition faith-based diplomacy into practical action. These priorities include establishing ethical frameworks for artificial intelligence and mounting a collective response to climate change — two issues addressed by the Center’s current initiatives.

Marwan Sarwar Gill, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Argentina, spoke about the universal understanding of peace in the Islamic tradition. Citing the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, he emphasized that human dignity must not depend on race, nationality, or origin. Imam Gill rejected the notion of selective peace, arguing that a holistic approach provides a crucial foundation for global security.

Yulia Shapoval, Acting Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Gumilyov Eurasian National University, highlighted the rise of digital radicalization. She noted that religious and expert communities must keep pace with emerging challenges in the information age, arguing that educational and peace-oriented content must become more visible to counter destructive narratives in the digital space.

Ivan Ivanov, Chairman of the Board of the International Center “Alliance of Civilizations,” underscored the importance of critical thinking in preventing ethnic and religious violence. In his view, education should go beyond transmitting cultural identity; it should cultivate conscience, empathy, and responsibility. Philosophy and ethics, he argued, deserve a more prominent place in educational curricula.

Dr. Matthias Bodi of the University of Oxford's Faculty of Theology and Religion observed that deep faith and open dialogue are not in conflict. Intellectual honesty and respectful interfaith engagement, he stated, help build a culture in which disagreement does not turn into hostility.

Several speakers, including Rostislav Novgorodov, Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kazakhstan; Tokzhan Kozhakhmetova, representative of the Baha’i Community of Kazakhstan; and Rudraksha Sakrikar, Rector of Somaiya Vidyavihar University, emphasized the special role of youth. They stressed that youth should be regarded not only as beneficiaries of education but also as active contributors to positive social change, mutual trust, and intercultural cooperation.

Sergei Melnik, Head of the Department of Philosophy at the Russian Academy of Sciences, proposed organizing an international roundtable in 2027 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the landmark document “A Common Word Between Us and You.” The initiative aims to further strengthen Christian-Muslim dialogue and deepen trust between religious traditions.

Concluding the conference, participants agreed on the importance of moving beyond interfaith dialogue toward practical cooperation, identifying sustainable peace, ethical governance of new technologies, climate responsibility, education, and the prevention of radicalization as key areas.      

15 июня 2026

Hong Kong, June 12, 2026 — The Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong SAR, PRC, the Department of Tourism of Almaty city, and Kazakh tourism operators took part in the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Hong Kong.

The exhibition featured over 500 international tourism organizations and companies, with more than 30 countries showcasing their national pavilions.

During the event, Kazakh tourism representatives presented the country’s tourism potential, established connections with Chinese and Hong Kong partners, and agreed to enhance collaborative efforts to attract more visitors to Kazakhstan.

On June 11, 2026, as part of the expo, the “Almaty Tourism Days” roadshow was held in Hong Kong.

The official opening ceremony was addressed by representatives of the Consulate General and Yerkebulan Abikhan, Head of the Tourism Promotion Department of the Department of Tourism of Almaty city. Attendees included representatives from Hong Kong government agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, cultural and artistic figures, heads of local tourism companies, and media representatives.

As part of the roadshow, representatives from Kazakh tourism companies, (Sky Way, Turan Asia, Vision Travel, and others), conducted B2B meetings with Hong Kong tour operators and signed memorandums of cooperation. The parties agreed to intensify efforts to promote tourist travel from Hong Kong to Kazakhstan.

The evening program offered guests a taste of Kazakh culture, featuring national cuisine, traditional dances, and musical performances accompanied by folk instruments and commemorative souvenirs were distributed.

26 мая 2026

The official website of the Astana AI Film Festival aaiff.ai has opened submissions for creators from around the world to participate in the international AI film competition. The project concept, competition format, and launch details were presented by the organizers during a press conference in Astana.

According to festival organizer Almas Zhali, the competition program will feature two sections: the main competition centered around this season’s theme “The Future Worth Living In” and an open section featuring five award categories recognizing best directing, visual language, story, concept, and character.

A key requirement of the competition is that submitted films must be created using full AI technologies, where artificial intelligence serves as the core production method rather than merely a post-production enhancement tool.

“The festival will take place in Astana from September 28 to October 1, 2026, as part of Astana AI Week — a week dedicated to artificial intelligence. This connects AAIFF with the country’s крупнейшие technological events and strengthens the festival’s international positioning,” said Almas Zhali.

Participation in the competition is free of charge and open to everyone

— both teams and individual creators — with no age or professional qualification restrictions. To participate, applicants must create an AI-generated short film of up to 10 minutes and upload it to the festival platform along with a project description.

“Applications are submitted through the festival website. Participants may either upload their work to YouTube and provide the link, or upload it to a cloud service and submit the corresponding link. All submissions are registered and managed by the organizers within a unified database, meaning creators do not need to manually track their application status,” said project co-author Aizatulla Khussein.

For videos uploaded to YouTube, the description must include the phrase “Special for Astana AI Film Festival,” the creator’s full name, and the hashtag #SpecialForAAIFF.

Following the selection process, the AAIFF team and international experts will shortlist 25 projects: 10 films in the main competition and 15 in the open section. The finalists will then be evaluated by an international jury composed of representatives from the film industry, AI community, and creative tech sector.

Submissions will remain open until August 15, 2026. The finalists will be announced in September, while screenings and the awards ceremony will take place in Astana during Astana AI Week.

Astana AI Film Festival is an international festival dedicated to films created using artificial intelligence technologies. The platform will bring together filmmakers, digital creators, technology companies, experts, and

investors. The festival’s total prize fund amounts to USD 1 million.

The festival program will also include screenings, an AI content conference, panel discussions, and pitching sessions for creators and producers. Organizers plan to hold the festival annually, developing it into a sustainable international platform for AI cinema and emerging forms of digital creativity.

Official festival website: https://aaiff.ai/