Tokayev meets Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Astana

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialAugust 26, 2026 at 07:40 PM

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Tokayev meets Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Astana

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Akorda on August 26, 2026. Tokayev called Lee's first visit to Kazakhstan historic and highlighted 35 years of bilateral ties since Lee Kuan Yew's 1991 visit. The leaders discussed trade, investment, aviation, and artificial intelligence cooperation.

Key Facts

Tokayev said Lee Hsien Loong's first visit to Kazakhstan has historic significance for the country.
Tokayev noted that Lee Kuan Yew visited Kazakhstan in September 1991, 35 years ago, laying the foundation for bilateral relations.
Nearly 500 companies with Singaporean capital operate in Kazakhstan, including PSA International and Temasek Holdings.
Tokayev announced Kazakhstan's decision to build a new modern airport in Astana and expressed interest in Singapore's Changi Airport experience.
Tokayev proposed intensifying cooperation between Kazakhstan and Singapore in artificial intelligence and digitalization.

Historic Visit

Tokayev emphasized that Lee Hsien Loong's first visit to Kazakhstan has historic significance for the country. He recalled that Lee Kuan Yew visited Kazakhstan in September 1991, 35 years ago, at the dawn of Kazakhstan's independence. Tokayev said that visit laid a solid foundation for bilateral relations and praised Singapore's transformation into a global center of finance, trade, innovation, and technology.

Economic Partnership

Tokayev noted the dynamic development of bilateral relations, characterized by regular political dialogue, growing trade turnover, and accelerated inflow of Singaporean capital into Kazakhstan. He stated that Kazakhstan and Singapore remain the largest trading partners for each other in their respective regions of Central and Southeast Asia. The number of companies with Singaporean capital in Kazakhstan has reached almost 500 and continues to grow, including PSA International and Temasek Holdings. Tokayev also noted that both countries fruitfully cooperate within multilateral formats and are rightly considered middle powers with similar positions on many international agenda issues.

Aviation and Technology Cooperation

Tokayev announced Kazakhstan's decision to build a new modern airport in Astana to meet growing needs for an aviation hub. He expressed special interest in Singapore's advanced experience, calling Changi Airport the recognized 'gold standard' of world aviation. Tokayev said Kazakhstan intends to use this experience in the new project and bring bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector to a new level. He also proposed intensifying interaction between Kazakhstan and Singapore in artificial intelligence and digitalization, noting that Kazakhstan is a digital country.

Business

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Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a Singapore delegation led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on August 28. The sides agreed to develop a medium-term strategic and innovative partnership program. Singapore's investments in Uzbekistan reached nearly $2 billion.

Politics

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Finance

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