Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received a steady stream of New Year greetings from an extensive list of world leaders and international figures as the country approaches 2026, the presidential press service reported.
Messages addressed to the head of state arrived from a broad range of partners, reflecting Kazakhstan’s active diplomatic engagement across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and international organisations. Among those who sent congratulations were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, underlining close ties with two major regional powers.
Central Asian neighbours also took part in the felicitation. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov were listed among the senders. Regional solidarity was further reinforced by messages from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Armenia, including heads of state and government from both Yerevan and Baku.
Leaders from the Gulf and North Africa conveyed their best wishes as well. The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with senior UAE officials including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are reported to have sent telegrams. King Mohammed VI of Morocco also extended his greetings.
Several European and global leaders joined the list. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella and other European presidents and prime ministers sent messages.
Asian partners also conveyed congratulations. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung were among those who sent their best wishes, while the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, and senior leaders from Southeast Asia and Africa added to the international roster.
Messages were not limited to state leaders. Telegrams arrived from the secretaries-general of regional organisations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Heads of major sporting and professional organisations, such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer, also sent their congratulations. The list included former heads of state, business leaders, financial institutions and diplomatic missions.
Tokayev New Year greetings reflect wide diplomatic ties
The range of senders highlights Kazakhstan’s role as a diplomatic bridge between regions and its engagement with partners from the BRICS+ grouping and beyond. While ceremonial in nature, such exchanges serve to reaffirm bilateral relations and maintain channels for cooperation on trade, investment, energy and cultural ties as the new year begins.
Officials at the presidential administration noted that the messages were received on the occasion of the New Year and conveyed hopes for continued cooperation and mutual prosperity. They said the greetings came from “leaders of foreign states and heads of international organisations,” underscoring the formal and wide-reaching character of the correspondence.
As Kazakhstan prepares for 2026, the flurry of diplomatic messages will be read by analysts as a reminder of the country’s international connections. The congratulatory notes may offer informal opportunities to reinforce existing agreements and pursue new initiatives in areas of shared interest, including regional security, infrastructure projects and economic partnerships.
The presidential press release included an accompanying photograph of President Tokayev, illustrating the official nature of the communications and the ceremonial exchange of New Year greetings between capitals.
While New Year messages are customary among states and international organisations, the breadth of participation this year underscores the extent of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic reach and the continuing importance of personal and institutional ties in international relations.
Key Takeaways:
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received New Year messages from presidents, monarchs and heads of international organisations.
- Notable senders included Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, UAE leaders, European heads of state and regional partners.
- Tokayev New Year greetings highlight Kazakhstan’s diplomatic standing and ongoing ties across BRICS+ and global partners.
- Messages came from state leaders, international organisations and prominent figures in sport and business.
