Uzbekistan

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
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government have launched an ambitious diplomatic campaign aimed at stabilizing the region around Afghanistan. (Source photo by Reuters)
Afghanistan turmoil

Pakistan lobbies neighbors to push for inclusive Afghan government

Islamabad ready to offer recognition if Taliban forms multiethnic regime

26 August 2021
Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev's country is joining east Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea in aiming for carbon-neutrality by 2050.
Environment

Uzbekistan joins global carbon neutrality race to 2050

European reconstruction bank signs on to assist Central Asian nation

31 January 2021
Women in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on July 13: The country continues to insist it is coronavirus-free.
Coronavirus

WHO leaves Turkmenistan in COVID gray zone as neighbors face surge

Central Asian nation says it has no cases but is advised to act like it does

18 July 2020
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
Freight train service from Wuhan, the original center of the COVID-19 outbreak, to Duisburg, Germany resumed on March 28.
Transportation

Shippers turn to Belt and Road trains to beat coronavirus shutdowns

With air and sea freight services disrupted, Europe-Asia rail lines shine

10 May 2020
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon: His government has so far avoided the lockdowns seen in other Central Asian states.
Coronavirus

Tajikistan finally confronts virus as Central Asian economies reel

Turkmenistan is now region's last bastion claiming to be coronavirus-free

8 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 Kazakh crew disinfects the streets of the capital, Nur-Sultan, on March 25. The country was the first to record COVID-19 cases in Central Asia.
Coronavirus

Central Asia virus responses run gamut from crisis to nonchalance

Pandemic tests economies, health systems, China ties -- and folk remedies

1 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
A girl stands in the doorway of her family's ger in Altanbulag, Mongolia. Her family, herders, began accepting guests via Airbnb in 2016. 
Life

Mongolians embrace 21st century tourism boom

Business opportunities blossom as nomads discover Airbnb

14 February 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
International relations

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China

Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire

13 February 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
Where's the beef? Aono's investments in Mongolia are in areas unrelated to its meat business, such as heavy machinery leasing.
Companies

Japanese meat dealer hungers for fresh start in Mongolia

Falling domestic demand sends Aono Freshmeat overseas in search of new business

23 December 2019
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
Tetsu Nakamura speaks to Nikkei on Sept. 14, 2018 in Fukuoka. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Obituaries

Japanese doctor who watered Afghan deserts: Nakamura in his own words

Tetsu Nakamura talked about his life and mission in 2018 Nikkei interview

9 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura in the Gamberi Desert, Afghanistan in 2008
Obituaries

Tetsu Nakamura: Humanitarian who devoted his life to Afghanistan

Slain Japanese doctor wanted to 'shine light into dark corners'

5 December 2019
The Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, home to half of Mongolia's population and 90% of its universities
Technology

Mongolia's emerging IT sector leads economy in new direction

Returnees armed with AI and fintech skills seed thriving startup scene

11 November 2019
A Chinese freight train travels through the Marmaray Tunnel under the Bosporus in Istanbul early Thursday. The journey was the first uninterrupted freight train journey from Turkey to Europe, transporting cargo from China while skirting Russia. (Anatolia News Agency)
Belt and Road

Chinese freight train skirts Russia on new route into Europe

Japan-built Bosporus tunnel allows Beijing to diversify cargo transportation

9 November 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
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani speaks in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo on Oct. 22. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Interview

Afghan president wants direct talks with Taliban, if reelected

Ghani says Pakistan holds key and needs 'to be constructive' toward peace process

22 October 2019