London, February 26, 2026 – At the invitation of the UK, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev, took part in the meeting of Central Asian and UK foreign ministers under the “Central Asia + UK” (CA5+UK) framework.

The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including opportunities for economic growth, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and develop international transport corridors.

In his remarks, Minister Kosherbayev emphasized the importance of pragmatic, mutually beneficial strategic engagement between the region and the UK, aimed at supporting economic development and sustainable growth of all participating countries.

 “Kazakhstan plays a central role in regional connectivity. Thirteen major transit corridors pass through our territory and around 85% of overland cargo transport between Europe and Asia moves through Kazakhstan. The idea of the CA5+UK format stems from these priorities. Within this framework, we view the United Kingdom as a long-term partner and are committed to achieving tangible results that benefit our economies, societies, and shared future,” Minister Kosherbayev added.

In her address, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted Central Asia’s significance as a dynamically developing region with steady economic growth, increasing regional cooperation, and a growing role in international affairs. The countries in the region are taking a pragmatic approach to engagement, strengthening interconnectivity, and gradually expanding their participation in shaping a modern framework for economic and political cooperation.

The discussions also focused on opportunities to align Central Asia’s resource and transit potential with the UK’s strengths in finance, regulatory standards, technology, and education.

For their part, the Central Asian foreign ministers praised the CA5+UK framework as an important platform for structured and results-oriented dialogue with the United Kingdom. They emphasized that the format has already proven effective in facilitating comprehensive discussions on regional priorities, while creating additional opportunities to promote economic initiatives and implement joint projects.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1170591?lang=kk