On 26 August 2025, King Abdullah II of Jordan began a landmark tour of Central Asia. From 25 to 26 August he paid a state visit to Uzbekistan, where he held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, before travelling to Kazakhstan on 26 August for meetings with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The tour is intended to elevate Jordan’s relations with the two Central Asian nations to a new level of comprehensive strategic partnership, spanning trade, investment, security and humanitarian cooperation.
In Uzbekistan, King Abdullah and President Mirziyoyev discussed expanding economic ties, boosting tourism and diversifying bilateral trade. The talks resulted in the signing of 15 agreements, including deals on mutual investment protection, visa liberalisation, and cooperation in science, education, agriculture and tourism. The two sides also agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Commission and a Business Council, both expected to convene before the end of the year. Mirziyoyev praised Abdullah’s “Aqaba Process” initiative against terrorism and extremism, proposing that one of its future sessions be hosted in Samarkand.
Later on 26 August, the Jordanian monarch arrived in Kazakhstan. The visit builds on momentum from Tokayev’s trip to Amman in February 2025. In Astana, the agenda includes investment, energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digitalisation and tourism, as well as regional and international security.
A key highlight will be the Kazakhstan–Jordan Business Forum, bringing together around 300 entrepreneurs and investors. Among the projects under discussion are exports of Kazakh wheat to Middle Eastern markets, construction of a poultry breeding facility with Jordanian capital, entry of Jordanian pharmaceutical producers into Kazakhstan, and expanded cooperation on veterinary medicines.
Partnerships are also developing in the digital and educational spheres. Memoranda have been signed between IT hubs and universities, with the first group of Jordanian students already beginning their studies in Astana. Another agreement sets the framework for cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In parallel, joint infrastructure and construction projects are being explored with Jordanian investment funds.
Aviation is another priority. According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, the legal framework for direct flights between Amman and Astana has been finalised, with the first services scheduled to launch in June 2026, twice weekly. Jordan has confirmed its readiness to subsidise the route in its initial phase to ensure passenger demand and long-term sustainability.
King Abdullah’s visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan marks the first such tour by a Jordanian leader in the history of bilateral relations and signals a shared commitment to move beyond protocol towards concrete steps in building long-term strategic partnerships with Central Asia.
The president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, cast his vote on Sunday as the country held snap parliamentary elections....
Pope Leo travels to Lebanon on Sunday to deliver an appeal for peace in a country repeatedly struck by Israeli air raids, completing the second and fi...
Four people have been killed and 14 injured after shots were fired at a child’s birthday party in Stockton, California. Police say the attack may ha...
Pompeii's ancient Roman frescoes, shattered and buried for centuries, could get a second life thanks to a pioneering robotic system designed to suppor...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said on Saturday that data showed 10 children had died because of COVID-19 vaccination...
Venezuela has condemned Donald Trump’s claim that its airspace is “closed in its entirety,” calling the remark a hostile act that breaches international law and echoes colonial pressure.
Pompeii's ancient Roman frescoes, shattered and buried for centuries, could get a second life thanks to a pioneering robotic system designed to support archaeologists in one of their most painstaking tasks: reassembling fragmented artefacts.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said on Saturday that data showed 10 children had died because of COVID-19 vaccination shots.
Hondurans will go to the polls on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in a tightly contested presidential election marked by heated accusations of fraud.
U.S. investigators have recovered the black box recorders from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky. At least twelve people died. The crash sent a wall of fire into an industrial corridor and forced the shutdown of the airport.
The Spanish agricultural sector has been placed on high alert following the confirmation that African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurfaced in the country for the first time in over thirty years.
The global recall of Airbus A320 aircraft has triggered widespread disruption across several major airlines, forcing flight cancellations in the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group retains the right to respond to Israel’s killing of its top military commander, leaving open the possibility of a new conflict with the country.
Kazakhstan has called on Ukraine to stop striking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a major drone attack forced a halt to exports and caused serious damage to loading equipment.
Pope Leo travels to Lebanon on Sunday to deliver an appeal for peace in a country repeatedly struck by Israeli air raids, completing the second and final leg of his first overseas trip as head of the Catholic Church.
Four people have been killed and 14 injured after shots were fired at a child’s birthday party in Stockton, California. Police say the attack may have been targeted, but the investigation is still ongoing and no suspect has been identified.
Pompeii's ancient Roman frescoes, shattered and buried for centuries, could get a second life thanks to a pioneering robotic system designed to support archaeologists in one of their most painstaking tasks: reassembling fragmented artefacts.
Hondurans will go to the polls on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in a tightly contested presidential election marked by heated accusations of fraud.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri won the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race from pole position and for the third year in a row on Saturday (November 29) to trim teammate Lando Norris's Formula One championship lead to 22 points.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment