Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong to make official visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to embark on official visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from August 24 to August 31, marking his first trip to Central Asia, according to the Prime Minister's Office. His itinerary includes stops in Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, as well as Tashkent and Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

In Astana, Lee will meet with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and two deputy prime ministers. He will also receive the Order of Dostyk of the First Class Award from Kazakhstan's president. The minister will deliver a lecture at Nazarbayev University and be awarded an honorary professorship.

During his time in Almaty, Lee will have a lunch meeting with the mayor, Darkhan Satybaldy, and engage with Singaporean and Kazakh business leaders. Kazakhstan is Singapore's largest trading partner in Central Asia, with significant bilateral trade in goods and services. Cooperation is expanding into areas like water management, digital integration, and research exchanges.

In Uzbekistan, Lee will meet President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, and visit the capital, Tashkent. He will also address the Senate of the Oliy Majlis. In Samarkand, Lee will be hosted to lunch by regional governor Adiz Boboev.

Uzbekistan is Singapore's second-largest services trading partner in Central Asia in 2024 and its third-largest goods trading partner in 2025. The visit aims to formalize intentions for launching negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two countries. Additional members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Prime Minister's Office will accompany Lee on the trip.