Kazakh president convinced France visit will raise ties to strategic partnership

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday said that he is convinced his two-day visit to the French capital Paris will raise ties between the two countries to strategic partnership.

“I am convinced that today's talks, as well as the joint statement we are adopting, will help bring the relations between Kazakhstan and France to the level of a strengthened strategic partnership,” Tokayev was quoted as saying by the Kazakh presidential press service Akorda during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Thanking Macron for the warm welcome, Tokayev said he attaches great importance to his visit to France, which he said marks a new milestone in the strategic partnership between Astana and Paris.

Tokayev further said that the agreements reached during Macron’s visit to Astana last year contributed to deepening Kazakh-French relations.

“Today, our countries maintain an active and trusting political dialogue. Kazakhstan and France closely interact in the international arena, together promoting the ideas of peace and sustainable development within the framework of multilateral platforms,” Tokayev said.

He went on to say that France is one of the largest trading partners and leading investors in the Kazakh economy, adding that they are grateful to French businesses for their commitment to doing business in Kazakhstan.

For his part, Macron noted the importance of their talks in Paris, which he argued would give additional impetus to developing Kazakh-French cooperation.

“Thanks to you, the partnership between our countries has significantly strengthened in recent years,” said Macron while addressing Tokayev.

The joint statement indicated that both presidents discussed cooperation in fields such as transport and logistics, agriculture, energy, industrial cooperation, digital development and health care.

“Special attention was paid to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties,” the statement said, adding that both the leaders also exchanged views on the current regional and international issues.