ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 28. Deputy Prime
Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, held a meeting with the High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja
Kallas, Trend
reports.
In the course of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Kazakhstan underscored to the EU High Representative the importance
for both sides to begin negotiations between Astana and Brussels
regarding an agreement to simplify the European Union’s visa regime
for Kazakhstani citizens as soon as possible.
The parties also discussed the current state and prospects of
Kazakh-European cooperation and exchanged views on international
issues. They welcomed the high dynamics of cooperation,
highlighting the significance of the upcoming Central Asia –
European Union Summit in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand.
Special attention was given to the further effective
implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between
Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as joint projects in the
areas of transport and logistics, critical raw materials, green
energy, digitalization, climate change, and others.
In the context of developing the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, Nurtleu pointed out the need for joint practical
steps that would allow access to the markets of the Middle East and
Africa.
For her part, Kallas assured of the EU’s commitment to deepening
long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan and implementing joint
projects. She stated that the outcomes of the “Central Asia – EU”
ministerial meeting, held the day before in Ashgabat, would
contribute to this, which are highly appreciated by the European
side.
At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed mutual interest
in continuing a constructive dialogue.
The European Union is Kazakhstan’s main trading and investment
partner. Trade turnover in 2024 amounted to $49.7 billion (+16.9
percent), of which Kazakhstan’s export was $38.6 billion and
imports to Kazakhstan were $11.1 billion. The gross inflow of
direct investments from EU countries from 2005 to the first nine
months of 2024 amounted to $200.7 billion. More than 3,000
companies with European participation operate in Kazakhstan.
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