From Azerbaijan’s groundbreaking robotic surgery and climate leadership to Kazakhstan and Italy’s new industrial partnerships, Central Asia is showcasing progress across every front. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan earned global acclaim — from gold medals at Expo 2025 Osaka to rising football stars recognized by The Guardian — while new air routes, security dialogues, and academic achievements strengthened the region’s global ties. The week underscored Central Asia’s growing role as a region of innovation, diplomacy, and talent on the world stage.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstanis can visit Armenia using ID Cards
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law ratifying agreements between Kazakhstan and Armenia that simplify travel and strengthen migration cooperation. Under the new rules, citizens of both countries can enter, stay, and travel within each other’s territories for up to 90 days using only a national ID card, rather than a passport.
Source: zakon.kz
Kazakh University surpasses U.S. Institutions in Global Ranking
According to the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Nazarbayev University entered the top 500 best research universities worldwide, improving its position by 100 in a single year. The Kazakh institution now ranks alongside—and even ahead of — prestigious American universities such as the University of Texas at Dallas and Colorado School of Mines, highlighting the growing global impact of Kazakhstan’s higher education and research system.
Source: zakon.kz
Kazakh athletes win three gold medals at the “Tournament of the Strongest” in fencing
Kazakhstan’s national team earned eight medals, including three gold, at the international epee fencing competition “Tournament of the Strongest” held in Astana. The results highlight Kazakhstan’s growing strength in the sport, with both men’s and women’s fencers reaching the podium multiple times.
Source: zakon.kz
Kazakhstan and Italy deepen cooperation in industry and energy
Kazakhstan and Italy have agreed to expand collaboration in industrial development and energy during high-level meetings in Rome. The discussions, led by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, focused on creating a regional engineering hub, building a sustainable aviation fuel plant, and localizing gas turbine and tubular product manufacturing in Kazakhstan to strengthen technological and investment ties.
Source: astanatimes.com
Future Chelsea player Dastan Satpayev named among the World’s Top Young Talents
Seventeen-year-old Kazakh forward Dastan Satpayev has been listed by The Guardian among the 60 most talented young footballers in the world. The outlet calls him the brightest star of FC Kairat and notes that his €4 million move to Chelsea is a promising step in his career.
Source: zakon.kz
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan and India discuss security cooperation
Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Baktybek Bekbolotov met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss strengthening bilateral and regional security ties. The talks focused on combating terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking ahead of the upcoming third “Central Asia–India” security dialogue.
Source: 24.kg
Kyrgyzstan wins gold award for Best Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka
Kyrgyzstan’s national pavilion received the Gold Award in the Empowering Lives category at Expo 2025 in Osaka, recognized for showcasing human potential, cultural richness, and education’s role in sustainable development. The international jury praised the pavilion’s design and its blend of tradition and innovation, placing Kyrgyzstan among 19 gold medal recipients out of 169 participating countries.
Source: 24.kg
Kyrgyz footballer becomes National Champion in UEFA Zone
Kyrgyz player Aizhan Boronbekova won the Kazakhstan Women’s Football Championship with FC Aktobe, which secured 24 victories and two draws in 26 matches. Boronbekova scored two goals this season, helping her team clinch the title after a decisive comeback win over last year’s champions, BIIK Shymkent, and qualify for the next UEFA Women’s Champions League season.
Source: prosports.kg
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and Italy expand cooperation in social protection
Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Social Protection Director Mansurbek Olloyorov met in Rome with Italy’s Minister of Labor and Social Policy Marina Elvira Calderone to discuss enhancing social welfare systems. The sides focused on experience exchange in social services, inclusive employment, and social insurance, and agreed to prepare a framework document to deepen bilateral cooperation in the field.
Source: uzdaily.uz
Centrum Air to launch direct flights from Tashkent to the Maldives on November 30
Uzbek private airline Centrum Air has announced the start of regular weekly flights from Tashkent to the Maldives, beginning November 30. The route will operate every Sunday using Airbus A320 aircraft with 185 seats, with one-way fares starting from 4 million Uzbek soums, reflecting growing demand among Uzbek travelers for tropical destinations.
Source: uzdaily.uz
Uzbek Footballer Sadriddin Khasanov named among the World’s Top 60 Young Talents by The Guardian
Seventeen-year-old Uzbekistan U-17 forward Sadriddin Khasanov was included in The Guardian’s list of the 60 most talented young footballers in the world. The publication praised his decisive performance in the U-17 Asian Cup final against Saudi Arabia, where he led his team to victory and was named the tournament’s best player.
Source: uzdaily.uz
Azerbaijan
Baku prepares to host the World Urban Forum 2026
Baku has begun preparations for the World Urban Forum, scheduled for May next year, according to Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture. Organizational and logistical work is underway, with the event’s official logo, website, and registration system already launched, and the forum set to run for six days for the first time to host high-level discussions.
Source: 1news.az
UN names Azerbaijan a true climate leader
Despite accounting for just 0.11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Azerbaijan stands out as a genuine leader in climate action, said Kurt Harrigan, Head of Sustainable Urban Development at UNESCAP. Speaking at the National Urban Forum in Baku, he highlighted Azerbaijan’s ambitious goal to cut emissions by 40% by 2050 and praised its commitment to integrated, multi-level climate governance.
Source: report.az
Azerbaijani and Chinese doctors perform historic remote robotic surgery
On October 16, as part of the international event “Robotic Surgical Bridge-2025” under the motto “Technology Knows No Borders: United for Health”, Azerbaijani and Chinese surgeons jointly performed the country’s first-ever remote robotic surgery. Conducted between Baku and Harbin via a high-speed technological link, the operation marks a historic milestone for Azerbaijani medicine, symbolizing a new era of innovation and international cooperation in healthcare.
Source: azertag.az