Economy

21 October 2025
A BYD Song SUV: The Chinese automaker and its peers are growing in Uzbekistan and beyond, but face a tough endurance test. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
The first EU-Central Asia Summit is taking place in Samarkand. (Nikkei montage)
International relations

EU hopes to sway Central Asia in first interregional summit

Russia, China loom over Samarkand talks on security, trade, energy

3 April 2025
"Not enough time, not enough support": Uzbekistan, a landlocked country slightly bigger than California, is facing the consequences of a history of poor irrigation, with rising salinity slashing the size of usable growing areas.
Asia Insight

Uzbek farmers battle to save cotton, wheat crops from mortal enemy: salt

Growing salinization crisis bites as cotton exports to Bangladesh skid 80% in 5 years

7 May 2024
A worker helps operate a gas field in Uzbekistan in June 2023. Methanol obtained from natural gas can be used to churn out raw materials for products ranging from plastics to films.
Economy

Uzbekistan chases chemical hub dream with Chinese polymer tech

Nation aims to export value-added products made from its natural gas

13 April 2024
A canal surrounds Uzbekistan's Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Complex. Opened in 2022, the site is at the center of efforts to draw more international visitors. (Photo by David Andreas)
Travel & Leisure

Uzbekistan built a $580 million tourist draw, but will they come?

Poor transport, medical services key hurdles for ambitious travel strategy

15 July 2023
The delayed TAPI gas pipeline promises to link Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, but security risks threaten this and other regional connectivity projects.
International relations

India's first Central Asia summit to focus on Afghan risks, trade

Shared security challenges loom over Thursday's talks and port, pipeline hopes

26 January 2022
The India-funded Chabahar Port in Iran in early 2019. New Delhi wants the site to become a gateway to trade with Central Asia. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
International relations

Spotlight on trade gateway as India hosts talks with Central Asia

Sunday discussions look set to focus on New Delhi-funded port in Iran

18 December 2021
The cargo center in Termez in southern Uzbekistan is a base for trade with Afghanistan. The Uzbek government has proposed extending a railway from there to as far as the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. (Photo by Yohei Ishikawa)
Interview

Afghanistan should be regional trade hub, says top Uzbek senator

Politician Safoyev says neighbor needs north-south transport corridor

21 October 2021
With exports and domestic consumption crashing, China, the world's second largest economy, could be on course for losses of up to $1.6 trillion this year, according to the ADB. 
Economy

ADB warns coronavirus threatens to chop 10% off global output

Bank says fiscal and monetary responses needed immediately to soften fallout

15 May 2020
A bridge construction site of the Bar-Boljare highway, pictured in June 2018: for Montenegro any concerns were far outweighed by the potential economic benefit of the new road.
Opinion

For developing world, Belt and Road Initiative is best deal around

China's infrastructure offer supports economic growth in Europe, Africa and Asia

6 May 2020
Tourist and school buses are seen at a parking lot near Kwai Chung Container Terminal in Hong Kong, April 1: The novel coronavirus outbreak has devastated the territory's tourism industry.
Economy

Pandemic to cut Asian growth to 2.2%, worst since 1998 crisis: ADB

Thailand, Hong Kong and seven other economies to shrink, China to slow sharply

3 April 2020
A child wears a mask in Thailand slum. The World Bank's forecast of a "third shock" could devastate economic growth and increase poverty across developing Asia. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

World Bank warns of 'third shock' after coronavirus and trade war

Developing Asia urged to address expected poverty surge, financial distress

31 March 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Despite the fanfare surrounding use of Gwadar port for trade with Afghanistan, experts say the facility has a long way to go before China sees any return on its investment.
Belt and Road

Beijing-backed Pakistan port opens as hub for Afghanistan trade

Gwadar challenges Indian interests in region, but China's ROI remains unclear

23 January 2020
An Azerbaijani company will sell these chocolate candies, made with green tea from Mie Prefecture, at local supermarkets, with plans to eventually take the confections to Russia, Europe and the Middle East.
Trade

Japan's farmers find customers abroad through H.I.S. travel agency

Discount trip planner puts Azerbaijan branches to work selling green tea

21 December 2019
Central Asia's most populous country has the veneer of a multiparty system but no true opposition.
Politics

Uzbekistan election exposes limits of image-polishing reforms

China's economic influence will inevitably become political, experts say

19 December 2019
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a written interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, said joining the World Trade Organization and cracking down on corruption are among his immediate priorities.
Interview

Uzbekistan plans over $6bn in joint projects with Japan

President Mirziyoyev to pitch resource development during Japan trip

18 December 2019
The talks between representatives of Taliban militants and a number of Afghan political factions in Beijing come as the U.S. has yet to resume peace talks with the Taliban. (Nikkei Montage)
Belt and Road

China to host Afghan rivals in drive to expand Belt and Road

Taliban included in peace talks as Beijing aims to isolate Xinjiang separatists

27 October 2019
From left, Naypyidaw, Putrajaya and Astana (source photo from Reuters)
Politics

A short history of relocating capitals in Asia

Indonesia's move has precedents in places such as Myanmar and Malaysia

30 August 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping is pushing his signature Belt and Road Initiative with the goal of creating a massive economic zone that will link China to Europe by land and sea.
Comment

Russia is in danger of being overrun by China's Belt and Road

A new Eurasian order is in the making, with Beijing in the driver's seat

17 August 2019
Kazakhstan's interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has promised to write off the mortgage and tax debts of low-income people, straining the government's budget.
Economy

Kazakhstan's political uncertainty weighs on its currency

Transition to permanent president and the ruble to determine tenge's value

29 July 2019
Gombojav Zandanshatar, chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia, speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo on May 30. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
The Future of Asia 2019

Mongolia braces for delay of state coal giant's IPO

Parliament chief says elections could interrupt move to list company this year

31 May 2019
The resignation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, left, in March made way for Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to take the reins of government. (Nikkei montage/Source images by Reuters and Getty Images)
Asia Insight

Kazakh strongman leaves unfinished business in rush to secure legacy

Chinese projects take back seat as Nazarbayev's successor seeks stability

7 May 2019
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told a ruling party convention on April 23 he would ensure the "continuity" of his predecessor's policies, including on the economy and foreign trade.
Politics

Former Kazakh strongman backs successor in presidential election

New leader faces task of jump-starting growth and foreign direct investment

24 April 2019
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev takes the oath after he assumed the post of Kazakhstan's interim president during a joint session of the houses of parliament in Astana.
Politics

New Kazakh president vows 'continuity' as world eyes who's next

Long-serving predecessor still looms large and has daughter in chain of succession

21 March 2019
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan hope to launch a joint visa soon that will allow ease of travel between the two countries.
International relations

Joint visa plan opens doors for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Easier travel between the two signals the start of warmer ties in region

16 March 2019
The Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy has rightly focused attention on doing more to ensure flight safety in Asia.
Opinion

Safety first in Asia's busy skies

Big data and cross-border cooperation will help

11 March 2019
China is seeking to strengthen ties with Afghanistan, as the U.S. makes plans to withdraw part of its troops which were deployed there soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Belt and Road

China has economic aims as it quietly builds bonds with Afghanistan

As US plans to scale down military presence, Beijing seeks to fill the void

14 January 2019
A man protests outside the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday @Byamba-Ochir Byambasuren
Politics

Mongolia shaken by widening loan scandal

Business owners protest over preferential benefits for officials

16 November 2018
A Chinese worker is seen during an inauguration ceremony for the Kazakh stretch of the Turkmenistan-China pipeline, outside Almaty.
Commodities

Kazakhstan to double gas exports to China in 2019

Trade war and new infrastructure open door to send 10bn cu. meters

28 October 2018