Kazakhstan has confirmed that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in the United States in December, following talks between Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur on Aug. 12 focused on expanding bilateral cooperation.

Although Kazakhstan is not a member of the G20, it is among the countries invited by the US to participate in this year’s summit, The Astana Times reported.

The two officials discussed preparations for the summit. They expressed readiness to coordinate on its agenda, while reviewing broader prospects for strengthening the expanded strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the US. Kosherbayev briefed Kapur on Kazakhstan’s ongoing political and socioeconomic reforms, describing the country as entering a new stage of development. He said the Aug. 23 Kurultai elections will represent an important milestone in implementing the country’s new constitutional model.

Kapur reaffirmed its interest in expanding practical cooperation in energy, critical minerals, advanced technologies, digitalization, transportation and investment. Growing strategic importance According to Assylan Smagulov, Master of Political Science and director of the Voice of Youth Public Foundation, the timing of the meeting reflects Washington’s continued strategic interest in Central Asia. “August is traditionally a period of diplomatic coordination before a busy fall schedule of international summits. When the US holds high-level meetings with the Central Asian countries during this period, it signals that the region remains an important strategic partner. That creates additional opportunities for attracting investment and advancing national interests,” Smagulov told The Astana Times.

Smagulov noted that Kapur’s participation was particularly significant because of his expertise on South and Central Asia. “The US sent a senior official who specializes in this region and understands both its challenges and opportunities. That demonstrates Washington views Kazakhstan as an important partner,” he said. He added that the country’s growing geopolitical importance stems from its strategic location, transportation links and abundant natural resources, including critical minerals. These factors have become increasingly important as prolonged geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains. “Participation in international platforms such as the G20 creates a window of opportunities for Kazakhstan to strengthen dialogue not only with the US but also with other major powers. The broader Kazakhstan’s international engagement becomes, the greater its diplomatic flexibility and its opportunities to expand economic cooperation,” Smagulov said. Water cooperation moves from policy to practice Water security has also become a growing pillar of U.S.-Kazakhstan cooperation. The officials reviewed Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish an International Water Organization as a specialized United Nations agency. The initiative aims to create a platform for coordinating international efforts on water governance, facilitating data and technology exchange and developing joint solutions to global water challenges. The proposal entered formal international consultations during the Regional Ecological Summit held in Astana in April. A summary report from those consultations is expected to guide further negotiations among UN member states ahead of the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi later this year. On Aug. 10, representatives of Kazakhstan’s National Hydrogeological Service (Kazgidrogeology), U.S.-based IBL Elements, and Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector met in Astana to discuss technologies for treating and reusing industrial and produced water generated during oil and gas production. The talks focused on wastewater treatment, water reuse and the recovery of valuable and critical minerals contained in produced water. Following the meeting, Kazgidrogeology, IBL Elements and Kazakhoil Aktobe signed a trilateral memorandum of cooperation establishing a framework for pilot projects in the country’s oil and gas industry. Rather than viewing produced water solely as industrial waste, the initiative aims to assess its potential as both a water resource and a source of strategically important minerals. “This meeting marks an important practical step in developing cooperation between the Kazakh and American sides. The signed memorandum creates the foundation for implementing a joint pilot project and scaling successful technologies to other oil and gas facilities across Kazakhstan,” said Bolat Bekniyaz, chairman of the board of Kazgidrogeology. Expanding economic and technology partnership Economic ties between the two countries continue to grow. Bilateral trade exceeded $1 billion during the first half of the year, an increase of about 10% compared with the same period last year. Cumulative U.S. investment in Kazakhstan has surpassed $60 billion. Several high-level engagements this summer underscored the growing partnership. In June, Astana hosted the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue, where senior officials from the five Central Asian countries and the United States discussed cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, investment and technology. At the event, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor described Central Asia as an increasingly important component of U.S. foreign and economic policy. Later that month, Kazakhstan joined the U.S.-led Pax Silica Initiative and the AI Opportunity Partnership, expanding cooperation in AI, advanced technologies and high-tech manufacturing. During the Pax Silica Summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev signed the declaration on Kazakhstan’s accession to the initiative. On June 30, government officials and business leaders from both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding trade, investment and technological cooperation during the Kazakhstan-U.S. Business Roundtable. During the event, the two countries’ business associations signed a memorandum aimed at strengthening long-term institutional cooperation.