The conference, titled “Legal Architecture of Kazakh–Chinese Cooperation: Investment, Dispute Resolution, and Legal Education”, brought together more than 300 participants, including representatives of government bodies, academia, and the diplomatic corps. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Kazakhstan, Han Chunlin, noted the high level of engagement between Beijing and Astana.

“China and Kazakhstan can rightfully be called companions on the path toward modernization based on the rule of law. We should continue to strengthen dialogue, enhance the exchange of experience, and expand cooperation in this field. This international conference aims to provide a platform for in-depth discussions, enabling both sides to better understand the concepts and practices of law-based governance, enrich the strategic significance of friendly cooperation between our countries, and jointly contribute to advancing effective regional and global governance,” said Han Chunlin.

The conference addressed China’s approaches to regulating digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the development of international educational programs, and modern models for training legal professionals oriented toward international practice. Participants also discussed key issues in investment law, dispute resolution mechanisms, digital regulation, and the training of legal professionals for cross-border practice. Chairman of the MNU Board, Talgat Narikbayev, highlighted the successful launch of an academic dialogue on issues of mutual interest to both countries.

“High-level meetings between the leaders of our states have once again confirmed a forward-looking agenda. This includes expanding cooperation in investment, infrastructure, technology, and education, as well as further developing legal frameworks to support these areas. As cross-border economic activity grows, issues of investment regulation, dispute resolution, and legal training are becoming increasingly interconnected. I am confident that cooperation between our universities through joint research and the training of future professionals will contribute to advancing this broad agenda,” Talgat Narikbayev emphasized.

Speakers at the conference included Constitutional Court Judge of Kazakhstan Kanat Musin, Vice Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan Daniyel Vaissov, SHUPL President Ge Weihua, and Zhang Shaoying, Deputy Director of the Office of the China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation. Special attention was given to legal regulation in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Presentations were also delivered by Cao Yang, Dean of the SHUPL School of Digital Intelligence and Law; Kaisar Yerkinbayev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Center for International Programs; Shi Jianping, Party Secretary of the SHUPL School of International Law; and Olga Bektibayeva, Dean of the MNU Law School.

“There is an active global race in the field of artificial intelligence, with major corporations striving to outpace one another in developing new technologies. In the context of globalization, particularly in the application of AI, this requires joint training of legal professionals. To date, only a few countries have developed relevant regulatory frameworks, and China is among them. In this regard, the exchange of experience is of particular importance for the education system and for Maqsut Narikbayev University as one of the leaders in legal education,” said Constitutional Court Judge Kanat Musin.

Meanwhile, SHUPL President Ge Weihua proposed jointly exploring advanced issues of digital governance and the rule of law in the field of artificial intelligence. He put forward an initiative to launch an interdisciplinary cooperation framework program titled “Law + AI” and to jointly develop bilingual courses. Ge Weihua also emphasized the need to establish mechanisms for legal cooperation between the two countries in investment and dispute resolution, as well as to create a China-Kazakhstan community for training specialists in the rule of law working in cross-border contexts.

“We have reached broad consensus on deepening cooperation with MNU and are jointly committed to advancing collaborative research and developing educational programs. The conference marks an important achievement in strengthening cooperation between our universities and serves as a new starting point for further engagement,” Ge Weihua noted.

It should be noted that agreements on cooperation with one of China’s leading universities were reached last year during the visit of the MNU Provost to Shanghai.

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The theme of the MNU Annual Legal Conference 2026 was “Law in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Dynamics and Stability.” The conference addressed the transformation of constitutional rights and freedoms in the era of digitalization, the protection of the rights of refugees and stateless persons through the analysis of judicial practice, as well as debated aspects of animal legal personality and the role of deontic modalities in legal logic. Participants also discussed the prospects for implementing international decent work standards in the platform economy within the framework of International Labour Organization initiatives, along with the development of the institution of corporate agreements in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

The event generated significant interest among young scholars. Around 60 representatives from leading universities in Kazakhstan and Russia delivered presentations. The conference served as a platform for those ready to analyze contemporary challenges, seek solutions to legal conflicts, and shape new trends in legal scholarship.

It is worth noting that the best presentations were recognized with special nominations, and the participants’ papers will soon be published in various academic collections.

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The award ceremony took place at the capital’s akimat. The MNU professor was awarded the medal for her significant contribution to the socio-political development of the country, her active civic stance, and her high level of responsibility in participating in key state processes. Special recognition was given to her activities as a member of the National Coalition “For the People’s Constitution of a Just and Progressive Kazakhstan!”, as well as her participation in explaining the draft of the new Constitution and in conducting the national referendum.

Professor Aliya Orazbayeva holds a Candidate of Legal Sciences degree and heads the MNU Institute of Constitutional and Political Research. As a reminder, a number of the university’s professors have previously also been honored with high state awards.

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This large-scale student competition took place within the framework of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, declared by the Head of State. The competition brought together over 90 students from Azerbaijan, Germany, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka. During the event, participants examined the impact of new technologies on the legislative system, legal principles, ethics, and human rights.

“The issues addressed at the competition are not fictitious – they are issues that will become real within the next 10 years. Therefore, it is very important to understand everything and listen to the participants’ ideas. For myself, for example, I gained many ideas that can be applied. The format itself is very useful for lawyers, and such events should be held annually, attracting even more teams. Topics such as social policy, taxation, and judicial proceedings involving new technologies could also be raised,” noted Daniel Vaisov, Vice-Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“The International Legathon MaxUP will be beneficial for our country, as we are becoming a hub where the best ideas are gathered. Consequently, we will be the first to be able to implement them. After the competition, based on all the collected concepts, our professors will begin to formalize them as regulatory policy documents so that they can be used in the law-making process,” emphasized Sergey Pen, Vice-Chairman of the Management Board for Science, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence at MNU.

During the competition, students presented their arguments on issues of liability for metaverse owners and treating the metaverse as an analogue of real states, regulation of virtual assets and the right to property protection for virtual entities, as well as the recusal of an AI judge and the legality of limiting time spent in virtual reality. Additionally, ideas were proposed for developing norms regulating the use of autonomous transport, synthetic content, and artificial intelligence in the economy. The team presentations were evaluated by vice-ministers of justice, science and higher education, a judge of the Supreme Court, partners from leading law firms, representatives of international companies, development institutions, and the diplomatic and educational spheres.

“We put a lot of effort into completing the first case at the competition. The assignment was very creative and multi-layered. Overall, we are satisfied with the result, because the author of the case said that we managed to defend it despite a weak position. For us, that is a point of pride; we prepared a lot, and winners are not judged. As champions of the first Legathon MaxUP, we are pleasantly surprised by the organization level this year; everything has become even better. We really like that the competition is expanding and has become a platform for lawyers dealing with the law of the future. In my opinion, the competition will become even larger each year, and I hope that more than 20 countries will participate next year,” emphasized Ravshan Idrisov, a student at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia).

“It is a great honor for us to participate in the International Legathon MaxUP 2026. Thanks to this competition, we can learn different perspectives on different legal systems. This helps us understand law more deeply. Therefore, if there is an opportunity, we would be happy to participate in this competition again,” noted representatives of the team from China University of Political Science and Law (PRC).

Based on the competition results, the leaders in the Russian league were teams from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan), Maqsut Narikbayev University (Kazakhstan), and the Ural State Law University named after V.F. Yakovlev (Russia). In the English league, the best results were shown by students from the University of Malaya (Malaysia), the Romanian-American University (Romania), and McGill University (Canada). The winner of the competition was the team from the first and most prestigious university in Malaysia – the University of Malaya. It should be noted that the total prize fund of the competition exceeded five million tenge.

“The event organization is top-notch. The debate round was educational; it was very interesting and informative. The second day was also important, especially the project we worked on for 6-7 hours. It was a new experience; everything was great. We performed quite well, scoring 7-8 out of 10. Next year, we definitely want to come back more confident and stronger,” noted representatives of the team from Almaty Management University (Kazakhstan).

“This is not only a competition, but also communication, bringing people together in science. Today’s modern world is developing so rapidly that, for example, AI has become a priority. We know that the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence has been declared in Kazakhstan; this is a very important moment. I think that science will save the world,” emphasized Parviz Gasanov, a team member from Baku State University (Azerbaijan).

As part of the competition’s cultural program, participants also visited the sights of the capital of Kazakhstan and tasted national dishes. The competition was held with the support of the AIFC Court, the Kazakhstan Bar Association of Legal Consultants, and the international law firm Baker McKenzie. Additionally, the event was supported by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, law firms Unicase, KP Disputes, Turkenov Consulting, and lawyer Rena Kerimova.

“This is the only event in Kazakhstan and one of the few in the world that examines issues of legal regulation of artificial intelligence and the development of the digital infrastructure in which we already live from such a perspective. The students’ presentations were of a high standard, and I am confident that most of their proposals are either already being considered by legislators or will be addressed in the very near future. Time flows very quickly, and what we are talking about now is already our tomorrow. Therefore, we definitely need to think and talk about it,” said Alexander Korobeynikov, a partner at the international law firm Baker McKenzie.

“We are very happy to participate in Legathon MaxUP. We really liked your hospitality; you have very kind people. We were very excited, participated in the competitions, and it was thrilling. The capital is very beautiful; we saw so many buildings with architectural elements. I hope we can visit Astana again. The other teams were also competitive; they are really good, and we were very happy to interact with them,” noted representatives of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Sri Lanka).

It should be noted that the next International Legathon MaxUP will take place in 2027.

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The Jessup Cup took place from March 28 to April 4 in Washington, D.C. For the 24th time, the MNU team represented the Republic of Kazakhstan at the world’s largest student moot court competition. Kazakhstani students also excelled in the written submissions category, ranking first out of 806 teams from over 100 countries for their memorial.

“This is the best result in the country’s history. We are especially proud that the team took first place in the world for the best written memorial – a legal document that reflects the depth of analysis, quality of argumentation, and a high level of preparation. Behind this achievement lies the tremendous hard work of the students, coaches, and our entire team. This is a great victory not only for the university but for all of Kazakhstan,” – said Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU, in his congratulations to the students.

The competition simulates proceedings before the International Court of Justice of the United Nations and has been held annually since 1968, drawing teams from around the globe. During the tournament, the MNU team defeated representatives from universities in the United States, Colombia, the Philippines, and Italy, as well as the 2024 champions – the University of the Philippines and the 2025 champions – Singapore Management University. This year’s Jessup Cup winner was the National University of Singapore.

“I congratulate Maqsut Narikbayev University on this achievement. It is the first time a Kazakhstani team has reached such a level. This demonstrates the university’s high standards and significant progress,” – noted Daniel Vaisov, Vice Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The historic result was also celebrated at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United States, where a reception was held for the MNU team. Magzhan Ilyassov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to the United States, highlighted the importance of the Kazakhstani students’ victory in such a competitive setting, where participants engage in two‑hour mock trials and present oral arguments in English. The university team included students from the International Law program: Anel Sapargalieva, Shynar Bayton, and Dana Kumargazy, along with coaches Rakhymbek Konylimkos, Zarina Temirbulatova, and Ramazan Kokzhalov.

“MNU has once again received a unique opportunity to represent Kazakhstan on the international stage. Our university regularly holds preparatory classes for this competition and encourages all undergraduate and graduate students to take part. Over time, our institutional memory has been preserved and passed down from generation to generation. This applies not only to the methods of drafting arguments in the memorial or how to perform during the oral rounds, but also to teamwork and the stages of preparation,” – emphasized MNU student Anel Sapargalieva.

It should be noted, that this achievement also allows Kazakhstan to be represented by two teams in next year’s competition.

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The event was organized within the framework of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, declared by the Head of State. The competition, themed “Law of the Future,” brought together 23 university teams from Azerbaijan, Germany, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka. During the contest, students explored the impact of new technologies on legal systems, legal principles, ethics, and human rights.

“At MNU, we believe that the future belongs to those who are not afraid to create, to ask questions, and to take on leadership. Over the two days of Legathon MaxUP, participants demonstrated that the future of law is being shaped today—by their ideas, solutions, and willingness to think outside the box. We live in an era where law and technology evolve together. In this new reality, it is no longer enough to simply know the law—you must be ready to rethink it,” said Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU.

The first stage of the competition, held in the format of debates titled “Lex Fantastica,” took place at the Court of the Astana International Financial Centre. During the discussions, students presented arguments on issues such as the liability of metaverse owners and whether it can be considered an analogue of real states, regulation of virtual assets, protection of property rights of virtual entities, recusal of AI judges, and the legality of limiting time spent in virtual reality. The second stage and the Grand Final were held at MNU.

The finalists proposed ideas for developing regulations governing the use of autonomous transport, synthetic content, and artificial intelligence in the economy. To ensure impartial judging, participants did not disclose their country or university during presentations. The teams were evaluated by vice ministers of justice, science and higher education, a Supreme Court judge, partners of leading law firms, as well as representatives of international companies, development institutions, and diplomatic and academic communities.

“MNU is the first university to raise the issue of a regulatory framework for the legalization of artificial intelligence. It was particularly interesting to see so many international teams addressing these challenges. As you know, Kazakhstan has adopted a law on artificial intelligence. Through such events, we can reassess our current legislation and draw new ideas to improve or refine our subordinate legal acts,” noted Dinara Shcheglova, Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The organizers also emphasized that all proposals collected during the competition will be formalized by university professors into regulatory policy documents for use in the national law-making process. According to the results, the top teams in the Russian league were from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan), Maqsut Narikbayev University (Kazakhstan), and Ural State Law University named after V.F. Yakovlev (Russia). In the English league, the best results were shown by students from the University of Malaya (Malaysia), the Romanian-American University (Romania), and McGill University (Canada). The overall winner of the competition was the team from the University of Malaya, the oldest and most prestigious university in Malaysia.

“We really enjoyed the competition theme and the preparation process. It is a great honor for us to become champions. We worked very hard, and our efforts paid off. We also believe that all other teams worked just as hard, and we would like to express our appreciation and support to them,” shared Koh Shi An, a student from the University of Malaya.

It is worth noting that the total prize fund of the competition exceeded 5 million tenge. The event was supported by the AIFC Court, the Kazakhstan Bar Association, and the international law firm Baker McKenzie. Additional support was provided by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, law firms Unicase, KP Disputes, Turkenov Consulting, and attorney Rena Kerimova.

It should be recalled that the first International Legathon MaxUP was held in 2025.

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This large-scale student competition is being held as part of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, declared by the Head of State. The event is organized by Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU). Chairman of the Board of the university, Talgat Narikbayev, welcomed the participants, highlighting the competition’s theme, “Law of the Future”, which reflects the world we live in today.

“The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has declared this year the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Technologies are rapidly transforming our lives, including how society and law function. Concepts such as digital identity and digital twins are no longer science fiction—they are becoming part of our reality. This creates new challenges that require clear and effective legal solutions,” said Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU.

The head of the university wished the students success and emphasized that the new generation of lawyers will shape the legal world of tomorrow. During the competition, participants explore the impact of emerging technologies on legal systems, legal principles, ethics, and human rights. The event has brought together more than 90 students from Europe, Asia, and North America.

“I am very interested in Kazakhstan’s judicial system, particularly because online courts have already been implemented here. This experience is not yet as developed in Uzbekistan as it is in Kazakhstan. In our competition application, we proposed adopting Kazakhstan’s experience and incorporating it into Uzbekistan’s legislation,” said Diyorbek Davronov, a student of Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan).

Participants were divided into Russian and English leagues. The first round, held in the format of debates titled “Lex Fantastica,” took place at the Astana International Financial Centre Court. The debate focused on a dispute over the virtual inheritance of Delal de Gogh, who passed away in 2036.

During the discussions, students presented arguments on issues such as whether metaverses can be considered analogous to real states with their own jurisdictions, the regulation of virtual assets, and the right to life and property protection of virtual entities. They also addressed questions related to the liability of metaverse owners, the recusal of an AI judge, and the legality of limiting time spent in virtual reality. The performances were evaluated by Supreme Court judge Elena Maksyuta, partner at ADL Disputes Mukhit Yeleuov, Chief Legal Officer of the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development “KazAID” Aiza Gabdullina, managing partner of Unicase law firm Artem Timoshenko, Chief Legal Counsel of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan Sayat Kukebayev, and attorney Rena Kerimova.

“Such competitions are extremely important for young people around the world. The legal case presented was very interesting. At first, we were not sure how realistic it was, but after listening to the speakers, we began to realize that with the integration of artificial intelligence into legal systems, we will indeed need new regulatory mechanisms. Legal systems are currently lagging behind, and it will be up to the younger generation to propose innovative solutions for the future,” emphasized Andrew Jiaxing Chen, a student at McGill University (Canada).

International Legathon MaxUP 2026 is held with the support of the AIFC Court, the Kazakhstan Bar Association, and the international law firm Baker McKenzie. The competition is also supported by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, law firms Unicase, KP Disputes, Turkenov Consulting, and attorney Rena Kerimova. The final stage of the competition will take place tomorrow at MNU.

It is worth noting that the first International Legathon MaxUP was held in 2025.

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A key feature of the club is its three-way cooperation model involving the prosecution authorities, schools, and the university. This format ensures continuity of knowledge, practice-oriented learning, and a strong link between secondary and higher education. The project aims to foster legal culture among young people, develop civic responsibility, and provide early career guidance for school students.

“This is not just an educational initiative, but an important step in shaping the legal consciousness of young people based on the principles of justice and responsibility. Maksut Sultanovich Narikbayev is a vivid example of professionalism and dedicated service to the state. I am confident that the younger generation will continue this path and make a significant contribution to the country’s development,” said Aibar Ilyas, Deputy Head of the Human Resources Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The project was initiated by the Main Transport Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which selected the capital as a pilot site. The club’s educational model is based on the “peer-to-peer” principle, where school students share legal knowledge with their peers, creating an open and trusting learning environment. In addition, graduates of schools participating in the club receive advantages when applying for admission, including educational grants and tuition discounts from MNU.

“The opening of the Future Prosecutors Club named after Maksut Sultanovich Narikbayev is a great honor for our university. It is an important platform for shaping the legal mindset of young people, instilling the values of legality, and understanding the mission of serving the law. I would also like to note that our cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office has been ongoing for many years and is based on shared principles of justice and legality,” emphasized Olga Bektibayeva, Dean of the MNU Law School.

The event was dedicated to the birthday of the University’s Honorary Rector, Maqsut Narikbayev. From 1995 to 2000, he served as the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A prominent statesman and public figure, he made a significant contribution to the formation and development of Kazakhstan’s legal system and worked at the university for more than 15 years.

It is worth noting that the project also serves as an example of effective trilateral cooperation between the state, the education system, and youth, aimed at shaping a new generation of citizens guided by the principles of justice, legality, responsibility, and a high level of civic awareness.

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The capital of Kazakhstan is set to become the center of a large-scale international educational event. As part of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence declared by the Head of State, the second International Legathon MaxUP legal case championship will take place on April 3–4.

The theme of the competition is The Law of the Future. The event is organized by Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU) with the support of the Astana International Financial Centre Court, the Chamber of Legal Consultants “Kazakhstan Bar Association,” and the international law firm Baker McKenzie. In addition, the competition was supported by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, the law firms “Unicase,” “KP Disputes,” and “Turkenov Consulting,” as well as attorney Rena Kerimova.

More than 90 students from 13 countries will take part in the competition. Among them are teams from such universities as McGill University (Canada), the China University of Political Science and Law (China), the University of Bremen (Germany), Baku State University (Azerbaijan), the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia), the University of Malaya (Malaysia), Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan), and others. The participants’ projects will be evaluated by representatives of government bodies, international legal practitioners, and AI experts.

“The President has set a strategic goal of transforming Kazakhstan into a fully digital country within the next three years. In this regard, I am confident that the education sector must play one of the key roles. We have created not just a platform for competition among the best law students from around the world, but a format that generates advanced legal solutions and ready-made regulatory models for the challenges of the digital era that we will inevitably face in the near future,” emphasized Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU.

Participants will explore the impact of emerging technologies on the legal system, principles of law, ethics, and human rights. It should be noted that this is not the university’s first project in the field of AI. Previously, MNU established two AI laboratories, launched a new “AI+X” academic program, and introduced a free artificial intelligence course for its graduates.

The first International Legathon MaxUP was held in 2025.

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The seminar was conducted in a hybrid format with the participation of students, master’s students, professors from the Research School of Theory and Philosophy of Law, and experts from the MIND Research and Analytical Center. The special guest of the event was Dennis Patterson, Professor at Rutgers University (USA) and the School of Law at University of Surrey (UK). He is a renowned legal scholar, author of numerous academic works, and an internationally recognized expert in commercial and trade law, as well as legal philosophy.

During the seminar, participants exchanged views on rethinking the doctrines of guilt and intent, the admissibility of neurobiological evidence in court, and the interpretation of fundamental legal concepts in light of modern neuroscientific data. MNU students and master’s students presented their ideas and theses on the topic. Dennis Patterson highly praised the level of student training and shared his vision of the prospects of neurolaw as an emerging field of legal research.

It is worth noting that the seminar is particularly relevant ahead of the second International Legathon MaxUP, where participants will develop innovative legal solutions at the intersection of technology and law. The large-scale legal case championship on the theme “Law of the Future” will take place at MNU next week.

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