President of Kazakhstan: Our cooperation with China has become a model of interstate relations
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From July 2-4 of this year, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, will be on a state visit to Kazakhstan. He will also participate in the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Recently, in an interview with a correspondent from the newspaper "People’s Daily" the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly, noted that further strengthening of friendship and good-neighborliness with China is a priority. This position fully aligns with the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries and contributes to peace and stability in the region, reports Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
Chairman Xi Jinping made his first foreign visit after the pandemic in 2022 specifically to Kazakhstan. For my part, I have visited China three times since last year. Our regular friendly contacts are a solid foundation for the progressive development of interstate relations, which are now entering another "golden 30 years." I fondly remember our meetings with my friend - the respected Chairman Xi Jinping. We always discuss current issues in an open and trusting atmosphere, exchanging views on the international agenda. It can be said that such a regular format of communication allows us to understand each other implicitly, which is very important for strengthening the bonds of friendship between our peoples," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an interview with a Chinese newspaper.
The Head of State noted that the level of relations between the two countries was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2019. China is Kazakhstan’s largest external trade and economic partner. By the end of 2023, bilateral trade increased by 30%, reaching $41 billion. Currently, dozens of large priority projects have been successfully implemented in the oil and gas, chemical, metallurgical, agro-industrial, mining, and other sectors.
The positions of the two countries are similar on many global and regional agenda issues, and we coordinate our efforts within international organizations and multilateral structures, including the UN, SCO, CICA, and the Central Asia-China dialogue.
Kazakh-Chinese cooperation can be considered a positive example of interstate relations," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The Belt and Road Initiative was first announced on Kazakh soil.
Kazakhstan has a convenient geographical location at the junction of the shortest land routes connecting Asia and Europe. Recognizing the strategic depth and the revival effect of the historical Great Silk Road, Kazakhstan was the first to fully support this truly ambitious and promising project," said the President of Kazakhstan.
According to the Head of State, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, major infrastructure projects have been put into operation, such as the Kazakh-Chinese logistics terminal in the port of Lianyungang, the dry port "Khorgos - Eastern Gate" on the border with China, new infrastructure in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk on the Caspian Sea coast, the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor, the international transit highway corridor Western Europe - Western China, and a logistics hub in the dry port of Xi’an.
In general, Kazakhstan’s strategic position as a regional transport and logistics hub has been defined. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both countries have paid special attention to cooperation in areas such as education, culture, tourism, science, and technology.
In February this year, I visited the first "Lu Ban Workshop" created at the East Kazakhstan Technical University named after D. Serikbaev, and I was impressed by the modern laboratories that train highly qualified technical and engineering personnel for Kazakhstan’s automotive industry. We are very interested in expanding the geography of such laboratories in our country," said the President.
In March of this year, a grand ceremony in Beijing marked the opening of the "Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China" which is expected to be an important step in developing tourism cooperation.
As part of the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism, many events will be held in cities and provinces of China to introduce Chinese citizens to the rich Kazakh culture, our traditions, and achievements in the arts," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The mutual opening of cultural centers in Kazakhstan and China will give an additional boost to bilateral relations. These centers will become strong bridges of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. In particular, in May 2023, the first "Central Asia-Kazakhstan" summit was held in Xi’an, with the participation of the heads of state.
The President noted that in recent years, economic ties and trade between Central Asian countries and China have successfully developed. Last year alone, China’s trade with Central Asian countries approached $90 billion.
During the summit, the heads of state made constructive proposals for the further development and deepening of practical cooperation within this framework. I am confident that the strong potential for cooperation laid down in this format will open new opportunities for trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian interaction between the countries of Central Asia and China," said the President of Kazakhstan.
Over the past years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has developed within the framework of the "Shanghai Spirit" increasing its international influence. This year, Kazakhstan holds the rotating chairmanship of the SCO.
I witnessed the creation of the SCO, participated in negotiations, and helped draft its initial documents. After more than 20 years of development, many countries have joined the "SCO family." During the summit in Astana, the SCO will welcome its 10th member state," said the President of Kazakhstan.
The development of the SCO contributes to strengthening stability and prosperity in the region and the world. As a founding member of the Organization and an active supporter of multilateral dialogue, Kazakhstan considers the SCO a permanent priority in its multi-vector foreign policy.
The Head of State also noted that during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the SCO, efforts will be directed towards developing common approaches to solving security issues, enhancing trade and economic cooperation, promoting environmental protection, and strengthening ties of friendship between peoples. The SCO should not remain on the sidelines of global processes. That is why Kazakhstan proposed jointly developing the SCO Initiative "On Global Unity for a Just World and Harmony." This initiative was highly appreciated and supported by the member states.
We call on the international community to strengthen an objective and open global dialogue, implement innovative security models, create a fair economic environment, and work tirelessly to protect the environment. We believe that the results of the summit will include such fundamental principles of the 'Shanghai Spirit' as mutual trust, equality, good neighborliness, mutual consultations, mutual respect for cultures, and the pursuit of joint development," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that Chairman of the PRC Xi Jinping proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and three major global initiatives. This important concept and initiatives support the core positions of the United Nations in international affairs, calling on states to work together, achieve common goals, and benefit human society.
In addition, these initiatives are harmonized with the priority directions of SCO development, including openness and inclusiveness, multilateral cooperation, and the principles of respecting the national characteristics of each country," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The President of Kazakhstan expressed his anticipation of Chairman Xi Jinping’s visit and the Astana SCO summit. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the SCO has extensive development prospects. Strengthening multi-level cooperation between Kazakhstan and China will make a significant contribution to the development and growth of the SCO.
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President Tokayev meets with Foreign Minister of Malta Ian Borg
Images | Akorda
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan met with Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg, Akorda reports.
The meeting with OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg discussed the current issues of bilateral agenda as well as interaction within the OSCE.
As the Kazakh leader noted, the OSCE takes stagewise actions in all three dimensions in the region and beyond amid the existing security challenges. Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to close cooperation with all parties in achieving the goals set out in the Astana Declaration, adopted at the OSCE Summit in 2010.
We’re ready to make efforts to achieve these noble goals and continue to work jointly with Malta as part of its OSCE presidency to ensure comprehensive and cooperation-based security, said the President.
The Kazakh President conveyed the warm wishes to Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, and stated the willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation and give an impetus to Kazakh-Maltese relations.
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CSTO Foreign Ministers convene in Kazakhstan
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The sitting of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states kicked off in Almaty under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Those gathered are engaged in discussions of the pressing issues of international and regional security and the development of Kazakhstan’s CSTO chairmanship priorities.
The documents aimed at the Organization’s further improvement will be signed following the sitting, and several political statements will be made.
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Head of State Tokayev, CSTO SecGen discuss key tasks of Kazakhstan's presidency
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President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Imangali Tasmagambetov to discuss the implementation of the key tasks during Kazakhstan’s presidency of the Organization, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
The Head of State pointed out that the CSTO needs to focus on its statutory activities, that are the most relevant and sought after for all the member states. Special attention, according to him, should be attached to combating such challenges and threats such as terrorism, illegal drug and weapon trafficking, crimes in the field of information.
The Kazakh President stressed the importance of establishing constructive cooperation with other international structures for greater regional security.
For his part, Tasmagambetov briefed President Tokayev on the realization of the Action Plan to implement the decisions taken during the November session of the CSTO Collective Security Council adopted at the initiative of Kazakhstan.
Preparations for the next session of the Collective Security Council and upcoming exercises set to take place in Kazakhstan were discussed as well.
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Belarus to become SCO's full member at Astana summit in July
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Belarus will become a full member of the SCO at the organization's Astana summit in July, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Zhang Ming said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum "SCO's role in new conditions: joining efforts for universal security, stability and prosperity" in Tashkent, BELTA reports.
Zhang Ming noted that the SCO family is growing bigger and bigger.
At the upcoming SCO summit in Astana next month, a decision will be made on Belarus’ accession to the organization, and thus the number of member states will reach a historic double-digit figure," he stated.
The SCO secretary-general also drew attention to the fact that "over more than 20 years, the organization has transformed from a regional platform for meetings of heads of state into a huge, comprehensive international organization."
Speaking about promising areas of cooperation within the organization, Zhang Ming pointed out that the SCO deals with not only "highest-level" tasks, such as politics, diplomacy, peace, development, security, but also with matters that have to do with people's everyday life, such as tourism, sports, waste management.
The above-mentioned achievements eloquently show that the Shanghai spirit is consistent with common interests, the organization’s original purpose of maintaining security and stability, ensuring sustainable development. Cooperation within the SCO will only grow stronger," he said.
The 19th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum is taking place in Tashkent on 5 June. The event is organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. More than 40 experts from 10 countries take part in it, including many national think tanks from the SCO member states, specialists from observer states and dialogue partners, as well as the leadership of the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. Zhang Ming said that today's forum would discuss topics that will have a great impact on the development of the SCO in the new era.
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Olzhas Bektenov at Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting: Decisions we make should influence life improvement for our citizens
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Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov discussed with the Heads of Government of the Member States of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council the topical issues of regional cooperation at the Government session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Nesvizh (Belarus), primeminister.kz reports.
The meeting was attended by the heads of Government of the member states of the Union: Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, as well as the observer state Uzbekistan and the invited state Azerbaijan. They exchanged views on topical issues, including the development of transport infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agribusiness, customs and technical regulation, competition, and digitalisation.
The meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council takes place during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Union. Olzhas Bektenov noted that, entering the second decade of the Union, it is necessary to build clear goals for further development and establish appropriate mechanisms for their implementation.
The Head of Government of Kazakhstan focused the attention of the participants of the session on a number of priority areas of work.
The need for a wide application of artificial intelligence technologies was emphasised. The exchange of experience in the use of AI can become a driving force for economic progress and innovation. Today in the world global transformation is already taking place in medicine, education, creative industries. Kazakhstan has positive dynamics in the digitalisation of public and financial services. For example, at the end of last year the share of non-cash payments was 88%.
An important area of work Olzhas Bektenov identified the improvement of transport efficiency. The positive results of Kazakhstan pilot project on automation of railway transit through reduction of time of processing of railway trains, automatic registration and issue of transit declarations for cargoes moved along the routes "China - Central Asia", "China - Europe" were noted. Kazakhstan is ready to share its experience and act as a reliable logistics hub on Eurasian transport corridors. The introduction of new opportunities will increase transport and economic connectivity, reduce business costs and ensure increased mobility of the population of the countries.
The issue also stressed the importance of modernising border crossing points.
One of the important mechanisms of logistics is the development of physical infrastructure. It is necessary to accelerate the solution of problems arising when crossing the internal borders of the EIM partner countries. Kazakhstan on its part has started to eliminate bottlenecks by reconstructing railways along the routes "Orsk - Kandyagash", "Makat - Sagyz", "Shalkar - Beineu". Construction of 4 junctions on the section "Makat - Shubarkudyk" has been started, existing tracks on the section "Mangystau - Beineu" and three junctions on the section "Mangyshlak - Uzen" are being extended," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
Government procurement of EAEU countries is also a topical issue. The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan voiced proposals to adjust approaches to the application of national treatment and the establishment of price thresholds below which national treatment in public procurement will not be granted.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the last meeting of heads of state noted that we need to make effective decisions not to miss the available opportunities. Today the Commission together with the countries is developing an Action Plan for the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration "Eurasian Economic Way". In the course of its completion, we must not go beyond the Declaration. The EAEU is a market without customs borders with a population of more than 185 million people. The decisions we take must first and foremost affect the improvement of the lives of our citizens. I am confident that further joint work will allow us to strengthen economic integration and create favourable conditions for sustainable and stable development of our countries," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
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