As China ends zero Covid, will Kazakh shuttle traders return to the border? Kazakhstan was caught off guard by Beijing’s decision to relax coronavirus controls at a trade hub on the border. Jan 13, 2023
Can a Kazakh consulate in China’s Xi’an help smooth bilateral trade? Kazakh firms see an opportunity, but are tempering their enthusiasm for now. Daniyar Moldabekov Jun 10, 2022
Kyrgyzstan’s donkeys-to-China trade courts controversy, corruption Religious mores, politics and the coronavirus have cast a shadow over one of the few Kyrgyz products China buys. Aigerim Turgunbaeva, Chris Rickleton May 30, 2022
Two years on, Azerbaijan’s land borders remain closed While the country continues easing other COVID-19 restrictions, why has it not begun to allow travelers to cross the border by land? Heydar Isayev Apr 29, 2022
Kazakhstan: Labor unrest troubles another Chinese project Kazakh officials know they cannot be seen siding with a Chinese company. Apr 15, 2022
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan: Trade with China bounces back after corona-slump The news is welcome with the countries about the feel the full knock-on impact of sanctions against Russia. Joanna Lillis Mar 8, 2022
Amid spike in COVID, Georgia drops passport system The government said the system was useless against the Omicron variant, but critics accused them of pandering to anti-vaxxer sentiment. Giorgi Lomsadze Feb 8, 2022
Armenia introduces new restrictions as COVID again rises The country has belatedly introduced a COVID pass system to enter restaurants and bars as the vaccination rate remains at just 28 percent. Ani Mejlumyan Jan 27, 2022
China promises more investment at Central Asia summit Xi Jinping said trade has grown 25-fold over the last two decades. Almaz Kumenov Jan 26, 2022
A belated return to Georgia’s dance floors Tbilisi’s world-famous nightclubs were the country’s last businesses to reopen following the COVID lockdown. But it took a confrontation with the authorities to make it happen. Giorgi Lomsadze Jan 14, 2022
The great paywall of Turkmenistan Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 23, 2021
China-Kazakhstan venture to begin nuclear fuel production Kazakhstan is moving through the production cycle, powered by Chinese demand. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 18, 2021
Georgia’s tourism industry welcomes small return in October Most of the tourists came overland from neighboring Turkey and Russia. Nino Bakradze Nov 16, 2021
Kazakh food exports to China plummet Kazakh exporters say China is pushing them aside, interested in a transit corridor but not a supplier. Almaz Kumenov Nov 3, 2021