Astana International University Hosted a Joint Expert Discussion by CFive and the Hudson Institute

On August 21, the CFive Intellectual Platform at Astana International University, in collaboration with the Hudson Institute, hosted an expert discussion titled «Kazakhstan and the New Eurasian Landscape: Strategic Partnerships, Connectivity, and Economic Opportunities» .

This event marked the Hudson Institute’s first-ever event in Central Asia, bringing together members of the diplomatic corps, former ambassadors and senior diplomats, international experts, representatives of national companies, as well as the academic and business communities at the university campus.

The discussion was moderated by Iskander Akylbayev, Chairman of CFive. The central focus of the debate revolved around Kazakhstan’s evolving role in Eurasia, the transformation of global supply chains, the development of transport and energy routes, multi-vector diplomacy, and intensifying competition among leading world powers.

During the session, speakers provided a comprehensive analysis of Eurasia’s new geopolitical landscape and shared key insights:

• Ken Moriyasu (Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute): Framed Kazakhstan as one of Eurasia’s pivotal “swing states” and highlighted the growing strategic significance of Central Asia within the context of global US-China competition. He paid special attention to the development of the Middle Corridor, land-based trade and energy routes across Eurasia, as well as the increasing role of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in regional connectivity.
• Bulat Sarsenbayev (Diplomat, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan): Emphasized the necessity of viewing ongoing geopolitical shifts primarily through the lens of the national interests of Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states. He also noted the importance of alternative transport routes and Kazakhstan's accumulated expertise as a trusted platform for international negotiations.
• Muiz Wahabdeen (Expert at the Geneva School of Diplomacy): Pointed out that Kazakhstan’s strategic advantages extend beyond its geographical location and natural resources. According to him, the country’s most critical asset is trust, which enables Kazakhstan to serve as a bridge between various states, economies, and institutions. In his view, Kazakhstan possesses the potential to develop not only as a transit hub, but also as an investment, intellectual, and diplomatic center, as well as a premier platform for international dialogue.
• Abzal Narymbetov (Oil and gas industry expert, Founder and CEO of Energy Analytics): Outlined the energy dimension of current global transformations. He stressed the enduring importance of traditional energy resources for the global economy and the growing role of overland oil and gas supply routes amid the urgent need to diversify global energy supply chains.

In the subsequent open discussion, participants addressed the prospects of the Middle Corridor, Afghanistan and Pakistan as potential transport routes, Turkmenistan’s expanding energy profile, the role of foreign direct investment, and the future trajectory of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy.

One of the central takeaways of the meeting was the thesis that Kazakhstan should focus not merely on positioning itself among major powers, but on building its own strategic value. In this framework, Kazakhstan has strong potential to solidify its role as a “connector state”—a nation linking transport routes, energy flows, investments, markets, and international dialogue.

CFive Intellectual Platform will continue to advance international expert cooperation and create platforms for meaningful dialogue on key issues of the regional and global agenda.