Kazakh FM Kosharbayev Attends Central Asia-UK Ministerial Meeting in London

LONDON, February 26, 2026 – Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yermek Kosharbayev, participated in a meeting of foreign ministers from Central Asian nations and the United Kingdom. The gathering was held under the "Central Asia + United Kingdom" (CA5+UK) dialogue format at the invitation of the British side.

The participants discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues. Key topics included prospects for economic growth, enhancing trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to support regional connectivity and develop international transport corridors.

In his address, Minister Kosharbayev emphasized the importance of pragmatic and mutually beneficial strategic engagement between Central Asia and the UK. He stated that such cooperation should contribute to economic development and sustainable growth for all involved countries.

"Kazakhstan plays a leading role in ensuring regional connectivity," Kosharbayev noted. "Thirteen major transit corridors pass through our territory, with approximately 85% of land freight traffic between Europe and Asia transiting via Kazakhstan. This priority underpins the very idea of the CA5+UK format. Within this framework, we view the United Kingdom as a long-term partner and are ready to jointly deliver practical results for our economies, societies, and shared future."

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted Central Asia's significance as a dynamically developing region with steady economic growth rates. She pointed to its increasing regional cooperation and growing role in international affairs. Cooper noted that countries in the region demonstrate a pragmatic approach to engagement, strengthen mutual connectivity, and consistently expand their participation in shaping modern architecture for economic and political cooperation.

The meeting paid special attention to creating synergies between Central Asia's resource and transit potential on one hand, and the UK's capabilities in finance, regulatory standards, technology, and education on the other.

The Central Asian foreign ministers praised the CA5+UK format as an important platform for interaction between Britain and their states. They underscored that this mechanism has already proven effective for building structured and substantive dialogue with external partners. It allows for a comprehensive consideration of the regional agenda while accounting for common interests and priorities of Central Asian nations. Furthermore, it creates additional opportunities for advancing economic initiatives and implementing joint projects.