Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, hosted the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries in London for an official meeting focused on expanding cooperation with the United Kingdom, DKNews.kz reports.
The talks centered on strengthening partnerships in education, science, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
The meeting took place within the “CA5+UK” format, which brings together the United Kingdom and the five Central Asian states to promote regional cooperation.
New chapter in Central Asia–UK relations
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev described the meeting as an important milestone in interregional engagement.
“The visit in the CA5+UK format marks a new chapter in relations between Central Asia and the United Kingdom. I am confident that our joint work within this framework will provide a strong impetus for the development of our countries and deepen interregional cooperation,” he said.
Officials noted that the format is designed to strengthen dialogue not only at the political level but also in education, innovation, and economic development.
Kazakhstan positions itself as an education hub
During the discussions, Kosherbayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s efforts to become an international center for education and academic cooperation.
He pointed to the country’s partnerships with leading British universities that have already established campuses in Kazakhstan, including:
- Cardiff University
- Coventry University
- De Montfort University
These initiatives are seen as an important step toward expanding international academic collaboration and attracting foreign students.
Expanding academic and research cooperation
Kazakhstan also expressed interest in increasing access to British educational opportunities and joint research initiatives.
Priority areas for cooperation include:
- sustainable development and climate change
- digital technologies and artificial intelligence
- healthcare and medical research
- academic exchange programs
Officials emphasized that such partnerships could support innovation and strengthen long-term institutional ties.
Focus on cultural and tourism ties
In addition to education, the meeting addressed broader cooperation in cultural and tourism fields.
Key topics included:
- joint projects in history and the arts
- development of tourism routes between regions
- simplification of visa procedures
- expansion of direct air connections
These measures are expected to facilitate greater mobility and deepen people-to-people contacts.
Importance of people-to-people diplomacy
Prince Edward stressed that human connections remain the foundation of sustainable international partnerships.
He noted that the United Kingdom highly values Kazakhstan’s openness and proactive role in advancing cooperation across priority sectors.
Analysts say such high-level meetings reflect growing UK interest in Central Asia and highlight the region’s increasing global importance.
