CFive at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York

In September 2026, the leadership of CFive, an intellectual platform at Astana International University (AIU), undertook a working visit to New York as part of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The program included participation in international forums and expert discussions, as well as a series of working meetings with representatives of the U.S. and international expert, political, and business communities.

The visit focused on Kazakhstan’s and Central Asia’s strategic development, strengthening economic cooperation with the United States, advancing the Middle Corridor, attracting investment, and expanding international expert engagement.

One of the key events was “Prosperity Through Peace: Investing in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route and TRIPP,” held on September 22, 2026, on the margins of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The event brought together U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, representatives of the U.S. Department of State, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as representatives of all five Central Asian states.

Discussions focused on advancing the Middle Corridor and the TRIPP initiative, modernizing transport infrastructure, mobilizing private capital, and strengthening economic ties between Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and international markets.

An important element of the U.S. approach was the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund, for which the United States allocated $201 million. The public funding is intended to serve as a mechanism for mobilizing additional private capital for projects along the Middle Corridor and across Central Asia.

Another important platform was a meeting between Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for International Cooperation Yerzhan Kazykhan and representatives of the U.S. expert and business communities, jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United States and the Atlantic Council.

The meeting addressed prospects for further developing Kazakhstan–U.S. strategic and economic cooperation, including engagement in the energy and investment sectors.

Particular attention was given to cooperation in the uranium sector. Kazakhstan’s leading position in global uranium production was highlighted, along with opportunities to expand partnership across the entire value chain — from resource extraction to higher-value-added production and technology transfer.

As part of the visit, CFive representatives also participated in the 7th Caspian Business Forum, organized by the Caspian Policy Center at the Harvard Club of New York. Discussions focused on the development of the Middle Corridor, regional connectivity, energy, and critical minerals.

At Asia Society, a conversation between former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Microsoft President Brad Smith addressed global developments, technological transformation, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the global economy and international relations.

CFive representatives also participated in the Concordia Annual Summit, which brought together representatives of government, business, and civil society to discuss global challenges, international cooperation, and new opportunities for engagement.

In addition to participating in public events, CFive held a series of working meetings in New York with representatives of the U.S. expert and business communities, think tanks, and international organizations.

The meetings focused on opportunities for cooperation with CFive, joint events and research initiatives, and further expanding the platform’s network of expert partnerships in the United States.

The working visit to New York represented an important component of CFive’s international activities, providing the platform with an opportunity to present its expert agenda on one of the world’s key international stages, strengthen existing partnerships, and expand professional engagement with the U.S. and international expert communities.