Prince Edward Hosts Central Asian Foreign Ministers in London for CA5+UK Talks

London, 25 February 2026 – Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, hosted a formal meeting with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian nations. The talks, held under the CA5+UK format, focused on deepening cooperation in education, science, and technology between the region and the United Kingdom.

"The visit in the CA5+UK format opens a new chapter in the partnership between Central Asia and Great Britain. I am confident that joint work within this framework will give additional impetus to the development of our states and deepen interregional cooperation," said Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

The Kazakh minister highlighted ongoing efforts to transform Kazakhstan into an international educational hub. He noted active partnerships with leading British universities—including Cardiff University, Coventry University, and De Montfort University—which have established their own campuses in Kazakhstan.

During the discussions, Kazakhstan expressed interest in expanding access to British scholarships, grants, and educational initiatives. The parties also explored establishing joint research centres in priority areas ranging from sustainable development and climate action to digital technologies and medicine.

The agenda further covered developing collaborative projects in history, art, and tourism. Practical issues such as simplifying visa procedures for students, researchers, and entrepreneurs were addressed alongside plans to expand direct air links and create new tourist routes between the regions.

In his remarks, Prince Edward emphasised the fundamental importance of strengthening people-to-people ties as a basis for long-term partnership. He stated that Great Britain highly values Kazakhstan's openness and proactive approach to developing cooperation in areas of mutual priority.