Kazakhstan and EU Evaluate Bilateral and Interregional Cooperation
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu recently met with representatives from the European Union (EU) to discuss cooperation in various areas. The meeting, held on June 13-14, involved discussions on transport and logistics, critical raw materials, and visa facilitation.
The parties had productive talks on interregional cooperation between Central Asia and the EU, highlighting their commitment to developing promising projects between Kazakhstan and the EU. Nurtleu expressed appreciation for the ongoing interaction in the transport and logistics sector and expressed his readiness to initiate discussions on simplifying the Schengen visa process for Kazakh citizens.
During the meeting, Terhi Hakala, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, emphasized the EU’s strong ties with Kazakhstan and acknowledged the country as a key partner in Central Asia. Hakala reiterated the EU’s willingness to continue effective collaboration with Kazakhstan, particularly in areas such as sustainable development, peaceful processes, economic growth, and reforms.
Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, praised the current state of relations between Astana and Brussels. He affirmed that the EU is actively working to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan and prioritize it in their foreign policy.
The parties also reviewed the progress made on the agreements reached during the recent EU-Central Asia Summit held on June 2 in the Kyrgyz Republic. Additionally, preparations for the upcoming Central Asia-EU Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for this autumn, were discussed.
Overall, the meeting highlighted the shared interests and commitment to deepening ties between Kazakhstan and the EU in various areas of cooperation, including transport and logistics, critical raw materials, and visa facilitation. The discussions also underscored the importance of sustainable development, peaceful processes, economic growth, and reforms as common goals for both parties.
