Key Points from Tokayev – von der Leyen Meeting: Visa, Trade, and Rare Earths
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Astana to discuss enhancing cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. The leaders focused on key areas such as the economy, digitalization, and innovation during their talks on the sidelines of the upcoming Central Asia – European Union summit in Samarkand.
The discussions included progress towards simplifying the visa issuance process between Kazakhstan and the European Commission. President Tokayev pointed out that the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement serves as the foundation of Kazakhstan’s relationship with the EU. He outlined four priority areas for deepening collaboration: energy, infrastructure, transport and logistics, and digital innovations.
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of joint transport and logistics initiatives, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. She also praised Kazakhstan’s recent breakthrough in rare earth metals exploration, noting the country’s potential as a key supplier of critical minerals for high-tech industries.
The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction announced significant rare earth metal deposits at the Kuirektykol site, with initial estimates indicating around one million tons. These findings position Kazakhstan as a potential key player in global supply chains for industries such as renewable energy, electronics, and defense.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue within the C5+EU format and discussed pressing regional and international issues. The meeting between President Tokayev and President von der Leyen highlights the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU in various strategic areas.
