Russian authorities reiterated, on January 22, pledges of increased economic engagement with Central Asia. The foreign ministry advocated plans to develop economic and trade ties with the region, while other officials urged the creation of a Russian state corporation that would encourage economic development there (Regnum, January 22).

• February 9, 2013

The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently reported that China coal consumption is nearly equal to the rest of the world combined.

• February 8, 2013

Ashgabat hosted a meeting of the Turkmen-Russian commission for economic cooperation, an official Turkmen source said today.

• February 8, 2013

Russian and Kazakh experts and relevant departments have reconciled positions on the Baikonur spaceport, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbayev said

• February 8, 2013

A Chinese navy vessel aimed a type of radar normally used to aim weapons at a target at a Japanese navy ship in the East China Sea, prompting Japan to protest, Japan's defense minister said on Tuesday, an action that could complicate efforts to cool tension in a territorial row between the rivals.

• February 5, 2013

North Korea's plans for a new nuclear test, like most things that happen inside the reclusive state, are shrouded in mystery. But that's not stopping analysts and officials from making some informed guesses about what's going on.

• February 5, 2013

Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Ebulfaz Garayev met with Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai.

• February 4, 2013

Iran has announced it will hold talks with world powers over its nuclear programme, in the first sign of diplomatic movement since last year to try to settle the international impasse

• February 4, 2013