Kazakhstan is a crucial partner for the European Union (EU) in Central Asia, said European Council President Charles Michel at an Oct. 27 meeting in Astana with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service.

“Strong cooperation between Central Asian countries is key to the security and development of the region. Today’s meeting is much more than just a policy dialogue between two regions. It is a powerful symbol of our reinforced cooperation and a strong signal of the EU’s commitment to this region,” said Michel.

President Tokayev highlighted that the country’s foreign policy priority remains the development of a strategic partnership with the EU. He noted that Kazakhstan is the only Central Asian country to sign the EU Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

“Your visit provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate significant achievements across the spectrum of the partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU. Next year we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We consider your official visit to Kazakhstan as evidence of mutual interest in bringing our relations to a new level,” said Tokayev.

In a joint statement, the two leaders welcomed the constructive dialogue between Kazakhstan and the EU on human rights and the rule of law. The European Council president praised the country’s significant reform plan for advancing its political modernization and vision of a Just Kazakhstan and its commitment to a complete and transparent investigation of the January events.

The joint statement paid particular attention to avoiding an unintended negative impact on Kazakhstan’s economy of the EU’s sanctions. Michel reiterated that EU sanctions were not directed against third countries and highlighted the importance of international sanctions being neither evaded nor circumvented. Both sides also discussed the relocation of European manufacturing companies, the products of which are not subject to sanctions, to Kazakhstan.

Tokayev and Michel exchanged views on regional and international agenda, including Afghanistan. The sides underlined the importance of strengthening regional dialogue in Central Asia, which is a key to prosperity, resilience, and sustainable development of the region.

Given the current geopolitical situation, President Tokayev and President Michel noted the importance of expanding existing and developing new international transport corridors between Europe and Central Asia to facilitate global production and supply chains. They also discussed the opportunities offered by the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and options for its development and the role of other transport connections in the region.

The meeting also touched upon cooperation in critical raw materials, including rare earth metals. The sides confirmed their willingness to develop a strategic partnership in this field. They welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan and the EU on a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains.

The two presidents noted that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges to which Kazakhstan and the EU need to adapt their economic activities. The problem of global warming requires urgent and effective action by the global community. Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening expert, technological and technical cooperation to adapt their economies to low-carbon development. 

Source : Astana Times

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Frankfurt, Brussels, London (15/12 – 40).

Shortly after being re-elected in Kazakhstan’s presidential snap election on November 20, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of state visits to Russia and the European countries, building partnership, advocating peace and cooperation, and cementing Kazakhstan’s position as the new diplomatic center between East, West and Asia.

President Tokayev has called for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia during the Collective Security Council session of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) on November 23 in Yerevan, Armenia. The meeting gathered Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas.

Tokayev stated that the meeting is taking place “amid complex geopolitical contradictions and unprecedented challenges,” stressing the growing turbulence in the region. Despite geopolitical turmoil, Kazakhstan remains committed to its strategic course toward strengthening relations and cooperation with partners in the region.

The meeting summed up the results of Armenia’s chairmanship at CSTO. Belarus will be the next to chair the organization. The leaders also agreed to appoint Imangali Tasmagambetov, Kazakhstan’s veteran diplomat, as the organization’s Secretary General come January 1^st for a three-year term.

After the CSTO meeting, President Tokayev met exclusively with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 28, with the allies reaffirming historic ties following public disagreements over Ukraine. The visit to Moscow was the Kazakh leader’s first foreign trip since being inaugurated for a second term last week, with the 69-year-old saying his choice to visit Moscow was symbolic.

Putin told Tokayev that relations between Moscow and Astana have a “special character.” He called for the strengthening of economic ties, saying this was “especially timely now, when international trade is in crisis”.

During the official visit of to France, President Tokayev met with French President Emmanuel Macron on November 30. While both Tokayev and Macron are gravely concerned about the situation in Ukraine, they also emphasized the high dynamics of Kazakh-French cooperation and agreed to continue diversifying and deepening ties in all areas of mutual interest, including the economy and investment, education, healthcare, science and culture.

The steps taken by President Tokayev seem to be in line with his previous statement,  that Kazakhstan would pursue a multi-vector policy, a term first used by the former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. A multi-vector foreign policy means the development of friendly and predictable relations with all states that play a significant role in world affairs and are of practical interest to the country. The multi-vector foreign policy is the characteristic of the foreign relations of the five Central Asian Republics: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan has a genuine right to consider its geography and location when framing the broad outlines of the state’s foreign policy. It shares land borders with five states: China (1,765 kilometers), Kyrgyzstan (1,212 kilometers), Russia (7,644 kilometers), Turkmenistan (413 kilometers), and Uzbekistan (2,330 kilometers). Due to its regional and economic potential, Kazakhstan should not only be concerned on national issues. The multi-vector policy can eliminate any manifestation of threats to the security of Kazakhstan.

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