Covid Diplomacy in Central Asia: Humanitarian Aid by Kazakhstan

Humanitarian aid is a commonly accepted international practice aimed at providing mutual support to members of the world community. Many countries are currently providing various types of assistance to enhance global capabilities to combat and overcome the global Covid-19 pandemic. Oil rich Kazakhstan is also actively participating in this endeavor.

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in an effort to provide economic support to the country’s neighbors amid the fight against the pandemic, has taken a decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This includes 5,000 tons of Kazakhstan’s flour for each country worth more than $ 3 million.

The decision was made following the official appeals of the Kyrgyz and Tajik sides to ensure uninterrupted supply of food to the population.


In a telephone conversation with President Tokayev, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian assistance and for supporting the Tajik people during these challenging times. He also expressed his gratitude for the assistance in the evacuation of Tajik citizens to their homeland, and in the transit of goods through the territory of Kazakhstan.

During the telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Mukhtar Tleuberdi and Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Chingiz Aidarbekov, the Kyrgyz side expressed sincere gratitude to Kazakhstan for the decision to provide humanitarian assistance.

The assistance will arrive in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in near future.

Kazakhstan, as a responsible member of the international community, is actively contributing to combatting the global coronavirus pandemic, and continues to providethe necessary humanitarian aid to partner countries. Kazakhstan was one of the first to provide partnership support to China in February amid the Covid-19 pandemic, carrying out several deliveries of medical protective equipment.

Provision of humanitarian aid is an important area of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. Kazakhstan has provided various types of assistance over the last few years to Antigua and Barbuda, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Japan, and other countries.