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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Olzhas Bektenov in Minsk discusses provision of population with high-quality and safe food products with Heads of Governments of EAEU countries
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov arrived in Minsk to participate in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, primeminister.kz reports.
Upon arrival, met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko on the implementation of agreements reached at the level of heads of state. The sides discussed the strengthening of cooperation in trade and economic, industrial, agro-industrial sectors, digitalisation, as well as cultural and humanitarian interaction. Bilateral trade turnover last year totalled $912 million. Measures to diversify trade flows and expand the range of goods supplied were considered. Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports of 105 commodity items worth about $265 million.
An important area of bilateral cooperation are joint projects in the field of agricultural machinery. To date, 11 projects have been implemented for the assembly of tractors, combines and other equipment totalling more than $200 million with the creation of 1.6 thousand jobs. The parties confirmed their intention to continue multifaceted work to ensure dynamic development of the Kazakhstan-Belarus partnership.
Olzhas Bektenov visited the Belagro-2024 International Exhibition and spoke at the Food Security of the Eurasian Economic Union plenary session. The session was also attended by the heads of government of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
As noted by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, providing the population with quality and safe food remains a paramount task. Kazakhstan, being the main producer of grain and flour in Central Asia, uses its agricultural potential to ensure global food stability. Kazakhstan is one of the world's top 25 food exporters. Domestic agricultural products are supplied to 80 countries, including Central Asian and EAEU countries. Its exports have doubled over the past 5 years, reaching $5.4bn.
One of the strategic priorities of our country's development is the agro-industrial complex. Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set a goal before the Government of Kazakhstan to bring the agricultural sector to the level of deep processing, fully covering domestic demand and continuing to increase exports. Our country aims to double agricultural exports by 2026. At the same time, the structure of our exports is actively changing and deep-processed products are being favoured. We are interested in opening joint processing facilities with localisation in Kazakhstan," Olzhas Bektenov said.
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan emphasised the potential of the EAEU member countries to meet the food needs of about 600 million people. For this purpose it is necessary to synchronise approaches to food supplies at national levels and taking into account the needs and interests of all member states of the Union.
Establishing close cooperative ties to produce competitive, environmentally friendly and export-oriented products that meet advanced international standards should be one of our priority tasks. The prospects are expanded by the development of new directions of logistics through Central Asia and increasing the capacity of existing routes to China," Head of the Government stressed.
Olzhas Bektenov voiced the measures necessary to address the problem of loss of agricultural products due to logistics and storage, as well as to strengthen the sustainability of agro-food systems, taking into account expert estimates of global warming and seasonal risks such as flooding and drought. In addition, the issue of development of modern agrarian science and active introduction of innovations in agro-industrial complex was emphasised.
The Belagro-2024 exhibition also saw the national exposition of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Domestic agricultural machinery, including combines, tractors, sprinkling equipment, as well as products of deep processing of agro-industrial complex were presented. In addition, scientific achievements of Kazakhstan's agrarian research institutes were demonstrated, for example, a drone used for field cultivation, patents for breeding achievements, including 4 varieties of apples.
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