Vienna, 22 September 2025 – within the framework of the 69th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the delegation of Kazakhstan achieved significant progress in promoting the principle of sovereign equality of member states.

As a result of years of diplomatic efforts, the IAEA General Conference welcomed the start of the silence procedure on Kazakhstan’s accession to the Agency’s Far East regional group (FEG), which includes China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The results of the negotiations on Kazakhstan’s accession to the group are expected to be announced before the conclusion of the IAEA Board of Governors’ November 2025 session.

Kazakhstan’s accession to the FEG will open the possibility for the country to be elected to the IAEA Board of Governors, as well as to hold leadership positions in the Bureau of the General Conference and its main committees.

These prospects are particularly relevant in light of Kazakhstan’s plans to construct three nuclear power plants, develop a national nuclear cluster, and strengthen the country’s role in global efforts to advance the peaceful use of atomic energy. This cluster will serve as a logical complement to the existing IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank, research reactors, and Kazakhstan’s uranium mining industry.

It should be recalled that, at Kazakhstan’s initiative, in September 2023 the 67th session of the IAEA General Conference adopted a resolution on restoring the sovereign equality of all member states. The resolution was co-sponsored by 56 countries from all regions of the world, including the United States, China, Japan, Turkey, Singapore, as well as all EU member states.

As a result of the implementation of Kazakhstan’s resolution, the number of states not belonging to IAEA regional groups was reduced from 17 to 13. In particular, Bahrain, Nepal, Brunei Darussalam, and Cambodia obtained the opportunity to join the Agency’s regional groups.

Kazakhstan delegation intends to continue systematic work to restore the fundamental rights of every IAEA member in accordance with the Agency’s Statute and the norms of international law.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-vienna/press/news/details/1072876?lang=kk