Dear compatriots,
Today, the international community observes the International Day against Nuclear Tests, established by the United Nations General Assembly at the initiative of our country.
Exactly 35 years ago, amid a complex international situation, the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site was closed. For decades, it inflicted irreparable damage on human health and the environment, leaving a painful mark on the fate of our people. This date will serve as a reminder to all humanity of the tragic consequences of nuclear testing and as a call to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
By voluntarily renouncing the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal on the planet, Kazakhstan made a historic choice in favor of peace, security, and sustainable development. This decision fulfilled the aspirations of the people of Kazakhstan and demonstrated our state’s responsibility for the fate of future generations.
Our commitment to peace and friendship with all states, enshrined in the preamble of the New Constitution, remains an unwavering principle of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. Our country’s position as one of the leaders of the global nuclear- weapons-free movement remains unchanged: we call for dialogue and negotiations among the nuclear-weapons states, the earliest possible entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and decisive multilateral action aimed at eliminating the threat of the use of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear energy must serve exclusively peaceful and constructive purposes. In a nationwide referendum, our people firmly supported the course towards the development of nuclear energy, laying a solid foundation for Kazakhstan’s economic, scientific, and technological progress for decades to come.
This strategic choice is an important part of the transformations opening a new chapter in the country’s sustainable development. Large-scale reforms across all spheres of public life are aimed at building a Just, Progressive, and Clean Kazakhstan.
I am confident that together we will achieve this noble goal.
From 27 to 30 August 2026, Bishkek hosted a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) under the chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The National Coordinators considered draft outcome documents to be submitted for consideration at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States, scheduled to take place in Bishkek on 1 September 2026. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on priorities for the further development of multifaceted cooperation within the SCO.
Particular attention was devoted to current issues concerning the enhancement of the Organisation’s activities, as well as to strengthening its legal and institutional framework.
“The forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek is of particular significance for the Organisation’s further development. As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the SCO, it is important not only to take stock of the progress achieved over the years, but also to set clear and practical priorities for advancing cooperation. Kazakhstan attaches great importance to strengthening the role of the SCO as an effective, balanced and inclusive multilateral platform,” said Murat Mukushev, National Coordinator for SCO Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The SCO Summit is expected to adopt a substantive package of documents aimed at further enhancing the effectiveness of the Organisation and strengthening cooperation among its Member States. Among the key outcome documents will be the Bishkek Declaration, to be adopted on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the SCO.
The Council of National Coordinators of the SCO Member States serves as a coordinating mechanism for the Organisation’s ongoing activities and facilitates interaction among the relevant ministries and government authorities of the SCO Member States.
Jeddah, August 27, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arman Issagaliyev participated in the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The key focus of the closed working session was the discussion of the current situation surrounding Palestine. Participants noted the continuing tensions, the difficult humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, and the risks of further instability spreading across the region. The meeting also emphasized the need to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and exploring avenues for a political settlement.
In his statement, Arman Issagaliyev stressed the need for the earliest possible resolution of the Palestinian conflict exclusively through political and diplomatic means. The head of the Kazakh delegation expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to make a practical contribution to supporting the Palestinian people by providing food assistance, participating in the reconstruction of Gaza’s social infrastructure, and allocating educational grants for Palestinian youth. The Kazakh side reaffirmed that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved on the basis of the “two states for two peoples” formula and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Following the session, a resolution on Palestine was adopted, and a new Secretary-General of the OIC was elected.
A roundtable dedicated to the investment potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the prospects for expanding economic cooperation with the Republic of South Africa was held in Pretoria. The event was organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the South Africa–Kazakhstan Trade and Cultural Association (SAKTCA). Representatives of the local business community, investors and the media attended the meeting.
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of South Africa Yerkin Akhinzhanov briefed participants on the country’s ongoing political and economic reforms. “The entry into force of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution on 1 July 2026, together with the recent elections to the Kurultai, is creating institutional conditions to strengthen the resilience and diversification of the national economy, while fostering a favourable environment for long-term business development,” the Kazakh diplomat noted.
The presentation highlighted key areas of Kazakhstan’s socio-economic development and promising sectors for investment, including transport and logistics, agriculture, tourism, metallurgy, mining, innovation and technology. Particular attention was drawn to the opportunities offered by the Astana International Financial Centre, as well as special economic and industrial zones, which provide foreign companies with a wide range of incentives and support mechanisms.
The event also provided an opportunity to exchange views on the development of Kazakhstan–South Africa economic cooperation, followed by a question-and-answer session. Representatives of the South African business community expressed interest in Kazakhstan’s investment opportunities and their readiness to continue a practical dialogue aimed at developing a mutually beneficial economic partnership between Kazakhstan and South Africa.
Astana, August 19, 2026 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held a meeting with Executive Coordinator of the UN Volunteers (UNV) Toyli Kurbanov, who arrived to participate in the First CIS Volunteer Forum.
The parties discussed key areas of cooperation within the framework of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026, proclaimed at Kazakhstan’s initiative. Kourbanov highly commended Kazakhstan’s leadership in promoting the volunteer movement globally, noting the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the relevant resolution initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as a landmark contribution to advancing the international volunteer agenda.
The Kazakh side also presented the country’s achievements in environmental volunteering, including initiatives and projects aimed at preserving the Caspian Sea and restoring the Aral Sea region, as well as the nationwide “Taza Kazakhstan” campaign, which has become an example of mobilizing civil society.
The parties also discussed strengthening the engagement of Kazakh volunteers in the activities of UN agencies, including through the UNV Full Funding Programme, and agreed to enhance Kazakhstan’s participation in promoting volunteer initiatives through the UNV Special Fund.
The parties discussed further development of the volunteer agenda beyond 2026 at the national, regional and international levels and reaffirmed their readiness to deepen cooperation. Toyli Kourbanov expressed UNV’s interest in further promoting Kazakhstan’s experience in the field of volunteering internationally.
Astana, August 18, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Issagaliyev received copies of the credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia, concurrently accredited to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Monica Nashandi.
Welcoming the Ambassador of Namibia, Deputy Minister Issagaliyev expressed confidence that her diplomatic mission would contribute to further strengthening the traditional friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, the sides discussed further development of political dialogue, expansion of trade and economic partnership, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their readiness to maintain active engagement in both bilateral and multilateral formats.
Astana, August 14, 2026 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held a meeting with Chairman of the KAZENERGY Association Serikkali Brekeshev.
The meeting focused on further cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KAZENERGY in the area of energy diplomacy, international cooperation, and the representation of Kazakhstan’s energy potential at international industry platforms.
Particular attention was paid to attracting foreign investment to Kazakhstan’s energy sector, expanding cooperation with foreign companies, international organizations and industry associations, as well as strengthening international business ties.
The sides discussed Kazakhstan’s participation in the 25th WPC Energy Congress, which will be held in Riyadh on October 11–15, 2026. The Kazakh side plans to use the Congress as a platform to present the country’s investment and technological opportunities, as well as to promote Astana as the host city of the next WPC Energy in 2028.
In this context, the sides also discussed preparations for the 26th WPC Energy, which will be held in Astana on June 11–15, 2028. The Congress is expected to contribute to international dialogue on the future of energy and expand Kazakhstan’s engagement with leading international companies and the global expert community.
As part of the discussion on the Congress’s international business programme, the sides noted the possibility of holding an event during the period of the 40th Plenary Session of the Foreign Investors’ Council under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Such a format would provide an opportunity to bring together government representatives, senior executives of major international energy corporations, and leading foreign investors.
The meeting concluded with a confirmation of the sides’ readiness to continue coordinating efforts to advance energy diplomacy, strengthen international cooperation, and attract foreign investment to Kazakhstan’s energy sector.
Astana, 12 August 2026 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Issagaliyev held a meeting with Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Berik Aryn.
The sides discussed current issues of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the IOFS, aimed at ensuring food security in the Organization’s Member States.
Deputy Minister Issagaliyev emphasized Kazakhstan’s interest, as the initiator of the establishment of the IOFS and the Organization’s current Chair, in further enhancing its potential and international standing.
The Director General of the IOFS, in turn, briefed the Kazakh side on the implementation of a number of targeted projects, including the establishment of a Gene Bank in Kazakhstan to preserve biodiversity in the agriculture of the Organization’s Member States.
Following the meeting, the sides agreed to continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation aimed at addressing food security issues across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) space.
The IOFS was established at the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2013 as a specialized institution of the OIC. Its headquarters are located in Astana.
Following the 7th session of the IOFS General Assembly, held on 13-14 May 2026, Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of the Organization.
Astana, August 12, 2026 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev received U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur.
During the meeting, the sides discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as prospects for further strengthening the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States.
Minister Kosherbayev briefed his counterpart on the political and socio-economic transformations underway in Kazakhstan, emphasizing that the country has entered a new stage of its development. In this context, it was noted that the Kurultai elections scheduled for August 23 will constitute an important stage in the practical implementation of the new constitutional model.
For his part, the U.S. side reaffirmed its interest in further strengthening cooperation and noted significant potential for expanding practical engagement in the areas of energy, critical minerals, advanced technologies, digitalization, transport and investment.
Particular attention was paid to Kazakhstan’s initiative to strengthen the global architecture of water resources governance, including President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish an International Water Organization as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on preparations for the G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in Miami in December 2026, which the Head of State will attend at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. In this regard, the sides expressed readiness to further engage in efforts to develop a substantive agenda at the highest level.
Astana, July 7, 2026 - First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev visited the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Republic of Kazakhstan, where he signed the book of condolences opened in memory of those who lost their lives as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
Y. Ashikbayev extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, wished a speedy recovery to those injured, and expressed his support to all those affected by this tragedy.
Kazakhstan shares the grief of the friendly people of Venezuela and reaffirms its solidarity during this difficult time.