EU Ambassadors highly assess prospects for political and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan
The meeting of Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi of Kazakhstan with the heads of diplomatic missions of EU Member States on Thursday in Kazakhstan has covered a wider range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union, Strategy2050.kz informs with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
In his welcoming remarks, the Kazakh Foreign Minister said that Kazakhstan commends partnerships with the EU, with an active political dialogue, high dynamics of mutual trade and attracting direct investment as the man characteristics. The Minister welcomed the recent ratification by all 28 member States of the European Union of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU, the adoption of the new EU Strategy on Central Asia.
The European diplomats praised the ongoing political, economic and social reforms in Kazakhstan, emphasized the progressiveness of the initiatives of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined in his address to the Kazakh people, as well as touched upon their institutional and financial aspects, the prospects for cooperation between the EU and Central Asia. It was noted that currently the Kazakh side is developing a separate road map aimed at realising the potential of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Special attention was devoted to the implementation of the results of European Council President Donald Tusk’s official visit to Nur-Sultan in May of this year, including his bilateral agreements with First President – National Leader Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In the context of the multilateral agenda, an exchange of views took place on issues as climate change, global security and cooperation within international organizations, including the EAEU, OSCE, OECD and others, where the EU ambassadors stressed the proposals of the Kazakh President in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September this year. At the same time, they agreed that Kazakhstan’s active foreign policy makes the country an active player in the international arena and allows maintaining constructive relations with all global partners. Kazakhstan’s part in maintaining global and regional security, including the contribution to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, humanitarian operations, and assistance to Afghanistan was marked.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister urged the European partners to actively cooperate, focusing on Kazakhstan’s interest in deepening comprehensive ties in the areas of trade, agriculture, transport, logistics, the environment, education, legal reforms, as well as supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
The meeting also dwelled on the facilitation of the visa regime with the EU, which would contribute to trade, economic and investment cooperation, and expand opportunities for citizens of Kazakhstan.
Following the meeting, the head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, Ambassador Sven-Olov Carlsson, praised the regular substantive meetings with European diplomats on trade and economic cooperation chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin. Such meetings, in his opinion, make it possible to coordinate positions, to more accurately understand the goals of both sides, to develop mutually beneficial solutions for further improving the business climate in the country and to determine promising areas of economic cooperation.
The sides agreed to continue regular working contacts in the Kazakhstan-EU format with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
