Japan begins ‘Cool Biz' energy-saving casual wear campaign
The Japanese government began its annual "Cool Biz" campaign Tuesday to promote energy conservation in the workplace by dressing more casually.
The Japanese government began its annual "Cool Biz" campaign Tuesday to promote energy conservation in the workplace by dressing more casually, Kyodo reports.
Cool Biz, which calls for setting office air conditioners at 28 C, will run until the end of September, allowing officials at the central government to work without jackets and ties and wear polo shirts, sneakers and even Hawaiian aloha shirts.
The Environment Ministry introduced the initiative in 2005 and is also promoting its "Cool Share" campaign aimed at getting people together in air-conditioned common spaces including commercial facilities and cafes. It is also encouraging people to use "green curtains" by growing shade-producing plants.
Although it is not compulsory, if we reduce the use of air conditioning, we will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions," said Shinji Isobe, head of the ministry's lifestyle policy office.
Private companies such as supermarkets and department stores also joined the initiative to combat global warming, with some planning to offer new fashion styles to help people spend the summer more comfortably.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
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Kazakhstan’s Role as Middle Power in Focus at World Policy Conference
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Kazakhstan’s contributions to addressing global challenges and its emerging role as a growing middle power were in the focus of discussions at the 17th annual World Policy Conference (WPC), organized by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) in Abu Dhabi on December 13-15, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
Thierry de Montbrial, founder and long-standing president of IFRI - one of Europe’s leading think tanks - moderated a conference session titled "Multivector Foreign Policies?". He highlighted Kazakhstan’s diplomatic course as a model for multivector diplomacy, which has earned the country recognition as a responsible partner in the international community. According to the distinguished French scholar, Kazakhstan has not only refined its approach to foreign policy but is also increasingly active in addressing global challenges as a middle power.
De Montbrial noted that this raises pertinent questions: What are the foundations of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy? How does it manage to maintain positive relations with various geopolitical power centers in an era of heightened tensions? And what can the country achieve in its newly acquired status, particularly, in conflict resolution efforts?
During the subsequent discussion, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko used the metaphor of the traditional Kazakh round felt house, the yurt, to explain the country’s balanced and pragmatic foreign policy. "In the traditional Kazakh home, there are no corners," he said. "Therefore, the need to take sides or choose a corner, as one might in a boxing ring, runs contrary to our national mentality.".
He further emphasized that "Kazakhstan rejects dividing nations into blocs. We believe that if states must indeed take a side, it should be the side of cooperation rather than rivalry, engagement rather than isolation, the rule of law rather than lawlessness, mutual benefit and the concept of a win-win outcome, rather than mutual exclusion and zero-sum games. Thanks to this approach, Kazakhstan has built mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with all its partners and enjoys amicable relations with all countries," he added.
Addressing what middle powers can do amid a crisis in the international security system, the Deputy Minister underscored Astana’s commitment to strengthening the United Nations as the sole global organization tasked with addressing issues of global development and security.
To this end, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has noted, the long-overdue reform of the UN Security Council must become a priority. For many years, the Security Council has been deadlocked on critical issues of war and peace. Kazakhstan believes the Security Council must become more representative and ensure fairer representation, reflecting today’s realities."
According to Roman Vassilenko, "what we can do as a middle power - and we take this designation very seriously - is to collaborate with like-minded nations, in a network of such countries in searching for collective solutions and in persuading global superpowers to prioritize the interests of humanity as a whole and urgently address critical global issues, such as climate change, inequality, poverty, etc.".
Responding to the moderator’s question on Kazakhstan’s stance toward the conflict in Ukraine, Vassilenko reiterated that "President Tokayev has consistently emphasized that the resolution of this problem can only be achieved through diplomacy. We advocate for the swift cessation of the conflict and the resolution of differences at the negotiating table. Kazakhstan is ready to fully support efforts in this direction.".
The panel discussion also featured Serbia’s Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabić and Georgia’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia, who shared their countries’ approaches to the topic.
The conference explored issues of global geopolitics and economics, bringing together politicians, diplomats, experts, business leaders, and journalists from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Representatives of international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development also participated.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Makes First Official Visit to Croatia
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Croatia at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić-Radman, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
This visit marks the first-ever official visit by a Kazakh Foreign Minister to Zagreb, setting a new milestone in the history of bilateral relations and will give a new impetus to the development of Kazakh-Croatian cooperation.
During the visit, the two sides discussed a broad range of bilateral issues, including political dialogue, strengthening trade, economic and investment collaboration, and enhancing cultural and humanitarian ties. It was emphasized that Kazakhstan and Croatia have substantial potential to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy, transport (including civil aviation), agriculture, digitalization and innovation, education, and tourism.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister highlighted Croatia's role as a long-standing and close partner of Kazakhstan in the Balkans and the European Union. "We highly value our meaningful political dialogue at all levels, founded on friendship and mutual trust. Economic cooperation is one of the key areas of Kazakh-Croatian relations," said Nurtleu.
Croatia is Kazakhstan's third-largest trading partner in Southeast Europe. By the end of 2023, mutual trade turnover reached 432 million USD. In this regard, the two sides agreed to enhance the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, with its second meeting scheduled for 2025 in Astana.
The Croatian Foreign Minister expressed Zagreb's interest in fostering progressive relations with Astana and reaffirmed Croatia’s readiness to promote mutually beneficial partnerships across all areas of shared interest.
The two sides also exchanged views on topical issues on the international agenda and discussed cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, OSCE, and others. Particular attention was paid to aspects of partnership in Central Asia and the Balkans, as well as to matters of ensuring global and regional stability.
Following the meeting, two key documents were signed: Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia for 2025-2027, and a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Institute of Diplomacy, Academy of Public Administration of Kazakhstan and the Croatian Diplomatic Academy.
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Kazakh Foreign Ministry Bids Warm Farewell to North Macedonian Ambassador
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko received Ambassador of North Macedonia Sali Limani on the occasion of completion of his diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The Kazakh diplomat presented Sali Limani with the Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, emphasizing North Macedonian Ambassador’s productive efforts in promoting bilateral political, trade and economic ties during his mission in Kazakhstan. He also underlined participation of the delegation of North Macedonia in the World Nomad Games in Astana and successful entry of the well-established pharmaceutical Alkaloid company, backed by 88 years of work, into the Kazakh market.
The parties noted that the recent meeting between the heads of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova within the framework of the COP29 in Baku and the invitation to the North Macedonian leader to visit Kazakhstan next year provided a significant momentum to bilateral cooperation. The diplomats expressed confidence that the opening of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in North Macedonia this year will further deepen relations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Minister Vassilenko extended his best wishes for Ambassador Limani’s future endeavours.
In his turn, having completed four years of productive work in Astana, the Ambassador of North Macedonia conveyed gratitude to the Kazakh side for the warm reception and expressed hope for the continued fruitful partnership between the two countries.
For reference: during January-September 2024, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and North Macedonia reached 5.7 million US dollars (exports - $204,000, imports - $5.5 million). The main imported goods are medical products, packaged for retail sale.
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Kazakh-Finnish Cooperation Priorities Outlined at Foreign Ministry
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the Republic of Kazakhstan Janne Heiskanen, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The parties noted the significant impulse to bilateral relations provided by the recent meeting between the heads of two states Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Alexander Stubb in Baku and the invitation to the Finnish leader to visit Kazakhstan next year.
Welcoming productive work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the parties expressed their shared interest in further strengthening Kazakh-Finnish partnership.
The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed the importance of increasing business ties and broadening the legal framework of bilateral relations, as well as close cooperation with Finland within the multilateral framework, including the UN, EU and the OSCE.
The Kazakh side wished Finland success in an important task chairing the OSCE in 2025. It was noted that despite serious crisis faced by the Organization, it remains a unique and indispensable platform for dialogue and cooperation. The Deputy Minister underlined the continued importance of provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, marking its 50th anniversary next year, as well as other fundamental OSCE documents, including the 2010 Astana Summit Final Declaration.
In conclusion of the meeting the Deputy Foreign Minister wished Finland’s Ambassador successful and productive work in Kazakhstan.
For reference: In 2023, the Kazakh-Finnish mutual trade reached 208.2 million US dollars (exports - 3.1 million, imports - 205.1 million); during January-September, 2024 - around 142 million US dollars (exports - 8 million, imports - 134 million). The gross inflow of investment from Finland to Kazakhstan since 2005 has amounted to 432.8 million dollars. There are 71 enterprises with the participation of Finnish capital registered in Kazakhstan.
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