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By Albert TURKSTRA, Program Coordinator, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS)
On 15 March, leaders of the Central Asian republics will gather in Astana (Kazakhstan) for a historic meeting which signals the dawn of a new era of regional cooperation and integration in Central Asia. A new era that firmly leaves behind historical animosities and rivalries in favour of ushering in new cooperative approaches, with efforts for closer integration being led by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the most populated country and the largest economy of the region respectively. While the absence of Turkmenistan’s head of state is regretful, the country will be represented by a high-level representative, parliament speaker Akja Nurberdiyewa.
Although in the past, some...
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