Energy and Economy

 

Kazakhstan Signs $22 Billion Worth of Agreements with China

During Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to China for the China-Central Asia Summit on May 18-19, Tokayev met privately with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss bilateral trade and investment. The one-on-one meeting resulted in 47 signed agreements, worth over $22 billion, including pipeline capacity expansion projects, transit route investments, and expansion of the Middle Corridor route. 

Source: Astana Times

Romania Orders a Feasibility Test on the Sea Transport of Azerbaijani Gas

On May 19, Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă announced a feasibility test on the transport of Azerbaijani gas via the Kulevi-Constanta route. This project will open a gas liquefication station in Kulevi and Constanta. This comes as Romania declares it will cut off its Russian gas dependence and secure alternative suppliers in the European market. 

Source: Yahoo News

Chinese Financial Institution Commits $500 Million to Roghun 

On May 17, following a meeting in Beijing with Jin Liqun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon announced that the bank committed $500 million toward the development of the Roghun hydropower plant. The meeting took place on the margins of the China-Central Asia Summit.

Source: Eurasianet, President of the Republic of Tajikistan

KazMunayGaz and Sinopec Ink Ageement on Polyethylene Project

While in Xi’an, China, on May 18 President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a deal on behalf of the national operator of the oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan, KazMunayGaz, with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec)  to jointly develop a polyethylene project in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau region. This project, when completed, will be the largest natural gas and chemical operation in the region.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Turkmenistan and China Sign Agreement on Customs Cooperation

During the China-Central Asia Summit, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of China Xi Jinping signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. The agreement aims to organize cooperation to combat customs offenses (including smuggling), exchange information on tariff rates, provide mutual technical assistance, exchange experience and experts, manage customs risks, and mutually recognizes  authorized economic operator institutions.

Source: TurkmenPortal

Kyrgyzstan and China Sign Agreements Worth Over $1 billion

In Xi’an, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov and President of China Xi Jinping signed agreements worth more than $1 billion, including investment agreements on construction of a solar power plant, mineral fertilizer plant, and a waste processing plant, as well as funding for shooting several film series. 

Source: AKI Press

China, Uzbekistan Ink $25 billion Worth Agreements

On May 18, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of China Xi Jinping signed 41 cooperation documents worth a total of more than $25 billion. The agreements focused on the implementation of a full-scale program of investment and technological cooperation for the development of renewable energy, digitalization of management and training of specialists, customs cooperation, and development of telecommunication networks. The importance of the early start of practical work on the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway was also emphasized.

Source: News Central Asia

Security and Politics

 

China Holds Inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an

On May 18-19, in China’s Xi’an City, the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened to discuss the future of China-Central Asian relations. China promised billions of dollars in support to the Central Asian countries, including infrastructure investment projects and support for security forces and cultural programs. 

Source: Washington Post

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Moscow

On May 19, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held another round of discussions on a draft peace agreement in Moscow. The meetings were mediated by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was quoted saying, “There is no alternative to the tripartite statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the situation in the South Caucasus.”

Source: JAM News

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Moscow 

On May 19, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held another round of discussions on a draft peace agreement in Moscow. The meetings were mediated by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was quoted saying that “There is no alternative to the tripartite statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the situation in the South Caucasus.” 

Source: JAM News 

Sources: AKI Press, Astana Times, Eurasianet, JAM News, News Central Asia, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmen Portal, Washington Post, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News