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The decision to call off the 2024 Astana International Forum was made amid the unprecedented floods in the country. Such a move came as part of a cost-cutting measure as the country battles the aftermath of the natural disaster and provides aid to its citizens.

The Head of State expressed hope that those invited to the event, which was due to take place on June 13-14 this year, will accept the decision with comprehension.

ASTANA – In an unexpected move, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced the cancellation of the Astana International Forum (AIF) scheduled for June 13-14, 2024.

Such a decision was made in connection with the unprecedented flooding in Kazakhstan.

“Due to the severe flooding in Kazakhstan and the need to allocate financial resources for relief efforts and aid for affected citizens, I have made the decision to cancel the Astana International Forum that was scheduled for June 13-14 this year,” wrote Tokayev in his X account.

During the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), held on 26-29 March 2024 and attended by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Astana International Forum (AIF) and the BFA signed a memorandum of cooperation.

The two organizations use their respective platforms to promote dialogue, to advance international cooperation in addressing common challenges in Asia and beyond, and to support efforts to strengthen multilateralism and collective responsibility for building a better world.

The AIF and BFA will enhance collaboration through joint events and cooperation between them to promote knowledge exchange, resource-sharing, and increased visibility of their respective platforms.

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Asia’s leading role in new development paradigms at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on the Chinese island of Hainan on Thursday (28 March).

The Boao Forum for Asia, initiated by 25 Asian countries and Australia, is a non-profit organisation based in Beijing, hosting high-level forums for leaders from government, business, and academia in Asia and other continents, sharing their vision on the most important and urgent issues in this region and the world at large. The Chairman of BFA is Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev last month visited Doha for two days of extensive discussions with the Qatari leadership. During the visit, President Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s readiness to increase exports to Qatar across 60 non-resource commodity items totaling $250 million and proposed increasing mutual trade to $500 million in the near future. This visit, which marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, reflected Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding its relationship with the Gulf states, as well as its evolving position as an active and productive power on the world stage.

Kazakhstan has been catching the attention of Western countries recently. Through projects like China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the complementary Middle Corridor, both of which pass through Kazakhstan, the country is becoming an important bridge and a global hub for trade and diplomacy between the economies of Europe and Asia. Consequently, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy has major implications for the East and West. Its policies and alliances could greatly influence trade, economic stability, and diplomatic relations in the wider Eurasian region.

A recent report by the German analytical centre, ‘Foundation for Science and Politics,’ has categorised Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country and one of its most important, as a ‘middle power’ – a nation with considerable influence in the global political and economic arena, yet less so than a major global power.

This is a stark contrast to a little over 30 years ago when the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and played an unassuming role in international relations.

Over the last decade, India has developed a strategy of heightened engagement and active diplomacy in Central Asia, viewing the region as an important economic and geopolitical partner. This year represents a critical moment for this fast-growing partnership, as India and the Central Asian five – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic – will have a number of premium opportunities to expand their relationship and identify new avenues for cooperation, including the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the biannual India-Central Asia Summit, and the second edition of the Astana International Forum. With such agenda-setting events in sight, India must build on its recent progress and establish itself as a key partner for the region.Over the last decade, India has developed a strategy of heightened engagement and active diplomacy in Central Asia, viewing the region as an important economic and geopolitical partner. This year represents a critical moment for this fast-growing partnership, as India and the Central Asian five – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic – will have a number of premium opportunities to expand their relationship and identify new avenues for cooperation, including the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the biannual India-Central Asia Summit, and the second edition of the Astana International Forum. With such agenda-setting events in sight, India must build on its recent progress and establish itself as a key partner for the region.