Brussels, 11 September 2026 – The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belgium hosted another meeting of the “Shanyraq Dialogues” discussion platform, dedicated to the theme “Kazakhstan’s New Political Era: Constitutional Reforms in Action”. Participants discussed the initial results of the implementation of the new constitutional model, the renewal of political institutions and the prospects for Kazakhstan’s further political development.

The event brought together representatives of the Belgian Royal Palace, key institutions of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the diplomatic corps, as well as expert, business and media circles.

Opening the discussion, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium Roman Vassilenko presented the key outcomes of the constitutional transformations and noted that Kazakhstan is entering a new stage in the practical implementation of reforms aimed at further strengthening state institutions, advancing public dialogue and improving the effectiveness of public administration. In this context, he highlighted the importance of the forthcoming establishment of the Halyq Kenesi, which will serve as an additional platform for broad public dialogue and the participation of various groups of society in shaping the national agenda.

Particular attention was paid to the country’s economic and technological modernisation, including digitalisation and the development of artificial intelligence, infrastructure and human capital. Addressing the international dimension of the reforms, Ambassador Vassilenko underlined Kazakhstan’s commitment to the principles of sovereignty, dialogue, peace and mutually beneficial cooperation, while highlighting prospects for further deepening engagement with international partners, including the European Union.

Georgi Gotev, Editor-in-Chief of “EUalive”, shared his impressions from his recent visit to Kazakhstan during the country’s first elections to the Kurultai, describing them as an important milestone in Kazakhstan’s political development. He also praised the “Shanyraq Dialogues” format as an informal platform complementing Kazakhstan’s dynamically developing relations with the European Union and Belgium.

Alberto Turkstra, Project Director at “Diplomatic World”, described the current stage as a turning point in Kazakhstan’s political and institutional development. In his assessment, the key question today concerns not so much the substance of the constitutional reform, but rather how the new institutions will function in practice and what kind of political culture will develop around them.

The expert particularly highlighted the role of the new unicameral Kurultai, viewing it as one of the key elements of political modernisation and a more effective decision-making process. In his view, the reforms reflect an effort to adapt Kazakhstan’s state institutions to a new stage of the country’s development, with a greater emphasis on accountability, citizen participation and institutional balance.

During the Q&A session, participants discussed the constitutional transformations underway in Kazakhstan, the development of the business and investment environment, as well as prospects for further cooperation with the European Union and Belgium. The establishment of the new constitutional institution – the Halyq Kenesi – attracted particular interest. In the context of engagement with European partners, participants also highlighted opportunities to further expand cooperation in trade and economic relations, investment and other promising areas.

Considerable attention was devoted to the development of artificial intelligence and digitalisation in Kazakhstan. Participants noted the progress achieved by the country in this field and the potential for mutual exchange of expertise with European partners. In this context, discussions covered the development of smart cities, the Alatau City project and Kazakhstan’s international technology initiatives. European and Belgian partners were invited to participate in AI & Digital Bridge 2026, to be held in Astana on 1–3 October 2026.

Against the backdrop of the large-scale transformations taking place in Kazakhstan, participants also showed particular interest in the country’s long-term development prospects. The exchange of views highlighted Kazakhstan’s growing role in strengthening transport and logistics connectivity between Central Asia and Europe, its consistent commitment to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, the UN Charter and the principles of international law, as well as the potential of the younger generation to contribute to the country’s future development.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-brussels/press/news/details/1290594?lang=ru