LONDON (TCA) — The Silk Road Revisited is an enticing new book that invites the reader to take an exceptional cultural and historical journey throughout Europe, Persia, Central Asia and China along one of the world’s oldest trading routes.

BISHKEK (TCA) — By means of its Belt and Road Initiative, China aims to expand its economic, political, and military influence, and presence, in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and beyond to Iran and the Middle East, which could put China in a key position in this vast region. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Stephen Blank:

ASHGABAT (TCA) — As Turkmenistan is experiencing its worst economic crisis ever, there is a growing dissent among the Turkmens both inside the country and abroad, which may ultimately result in an open protest against the country’s authoritarian leader. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Paul Goble:

BISHKEK (TCA) — For the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries — Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan — Iran’s potential full membership of the bloc would now entail more undesirable implications than advantages (such as expansion of the SCO’s geographic influence from Eurasia to the Middle East). We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Vali Kaleji:

BISHKEK (TCA) — Landlocked Kyrgyzstan is set to benefit from the construction of a railroad link connecting China and Uzbekistan and meant to transit Chinese goods in the direction of the Caspian ports and on to Europe. The project, however, would face resistance from Russia, which tries to maintain its declining influence in Central Asia. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Emil Avdaliani*:

ASHGABAT (TCA) — As Turkmenistan faces economic, healthcare and security problems, the isolationist country seems to have realized the need for more international cooperation to resolve the pressing issues. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by John C. K. Daly*:

BISHKEK (TCA) — In recent years, along with its economic and military advances in Central Asia and the Caucasus, China has also expanded its cultural influence in these regions, which causes increasing concerns in Russia. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Paul Goble:

TASHKENT (TCA) — As Uzbekistan is undergoing changes and opening up to the world, there is a shift in the country’s national narrative from Tamerlane as the founder of Uzbekistan to the role of Alexander the Great in the country’s history. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Dmitry Shlapentokh*:

BISHKEK (TCA) — Mass protests caused by the presidential elections in Belarus and parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan have led to different results, which is largely due to different political culture and mentality in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the geopolitical role played by each of the two former Soviet republics. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Ildar Yakubov and originally published by CABAR.asia:

BISHKEK (TCA) — New power system modelling analysis for Central Asia shows that the region can reduce operating expenses by as much as $6.4 billion in the next 10 years. This can become a reality when neighboring system operators leverage connected electricity transmission infrastructure. Discussions are underway to make connections and derive optimal value from coordinated system operation, the World Bank said in an article published on its website.

BISHKEK (TCA) — All the Caspian littoral countries — Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan — take efforts to establish and develop transportation ports in the Caspian Sea, with the aim to take the maximum advantage from the transit of cargos between Europe and Asia. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Orkhan Baghirov:

BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan's divided parliament has controversially appointed opposition politician Sadyr Japarov as prime minister, just days after the convicted kidnapper was sprung from prison during turmoil over the Central Asian country's disputed parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization now shows signs of becoming increasingly divided and ineffective, largely due to the difference of political and economic interests of its core members — Russia and China. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Fozil Mashrab:

BISHKEK (TCA) — China is expanding its rail traffic through Central Asia and the Caspian region, outplaying Russia on the railways transportation market in this part of Eurasia. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Paul Goble:

SINGAPORE (TCA) — On 8th September 2020, China held a national ceremony to honor those heroes fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping delivered a speech applauding China’s triumph.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Tablighi Jamaat Islamic group — which is banned in Central Asia’s Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan but allowed in Kyrgyzstan — has caused increasing concerns in Europe and the US due to its alleged terrorist influence. We are republishing the following article on the issue, originally published by EU Today:

BISHKEK (TCA) — Russia has been increasingly trying to play a role in Afghanistan, and the whole Central Asia region, but its tools of influence in Afghanistan are weak compared to the US military and China’s economic influence. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Richard Weitz*:

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has been carrying out a joint nuclear nonproliferation mission with the government of Kazakhstan for over 26 years. DTRA’s mission is to enable the United States Department of Defense, the United States Government, and international partners to counter and contain weapons of mass destruction. The current project at the former Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) in Kazakhstan is an example of the important non-proliferation work that DTRA is doing with allies and partners around the world, the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan reported on August 29.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The efficient trade of goods across international borders is key to economic growth and poverty alleviation. This is particularly important in largely landlocked Central Asia where road and rail represent the two dominant modes of transporting goods across the region, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) wrote in an article published on its website.

BISHKEK (TCA) — As China is advancing its strategic goals in Central Asia, investments from the United States would help balance China’s plans to further penetrate Central Asian economies. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Margarita Assenova:

BISHKEK (TCA) — It is nothing new to suggest that regional cooperation in Central Asia holds significant potential for the region. Nor is it novel to recall the shared heritage and history, including the famous Silk Road, that links Central Asian countries. And yet there is one largely overlooked area of cooperation, which has ever-growing importance and urgency…

BISHKEK (TCA) — Ask any tourist visiting Central Asia what they love about the region and, among other responses, you are likely to hear about their mouth-watering experience eating fresh, tasty fruits and berries. This is not surprising, as the region is home to some 300 wild fruit and nut species.

BISHKEK (TCA) — Border incidents have sporadically occurred in Central Asia since the breakup of the Soviet Union, but independent countries of the region have always been able to manage the crises on their own, taking resolute steps to complete the long process of their border delimitation. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Farkhod Tolipov*:

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — After succeeding Nursultan Nazarbayev as Kazakhstan’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has managed to consolidate his power and prove there is no dual power in Central Asia’s largest country. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by John C. K. Daly:

BISHKEK (TCA) — Border disputes and clashes between Kyrgyzstan and its neighbors Uzbekistan and Tajikistan threaten the future of strategically important transport connections in this landlocked region. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Fozil Mashrab: