President of Turkey arrived in Kazakhstan for official visit

Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Thailand upon the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the talks, sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakh-Thai relations in political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.

Ministers noted the similarity of positions of Kazakhstan and Thailand on key issues of the global political agenda, especially in the areas of nuclear non-proliferation and security on the Asian continent. In this context, they expressed mutual interest in continuing cooperation at such platforms as the UN, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and the Dialogue on Cooperation in Asia.

Foreign Minister Nurtleu emphasized the consistent growth of mutual interest of the two countries in the field of trade. The growth of bilateral trade turnover in the post-covid period was noted with appreciation, which reached a historical maximum of 367 million US dollars by the end of 2023.

Both sides noted the significant potential of cooperation in the sphere of agriculture and food security. They stressed the need to intensify contacts of business circles and search for the most advantageous conditions for transportation of goods between the two countries.

Cooperation on tourism is actively developing, the number of direct flights between two countries is growing. In 2023, 172 thousand Kazakh tourists visited Thailand, which is 2.5 times higher than the figure for 2022.

Following the visit, the heads of foreign ministries signed an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on Exemption from Visa Requirements of National Passport Holders. According to this document, citizens of the both countries can stay without a visa for up to 30 calendar days from the date of entry into each other’s territory. The Agreement will come fully valid after the parties finalize the domestic procedures.

A Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Tourism was also signed between the ministries of tourism and sports of Kazakhstan and Thailand.

Foreign Ministers noted satisfaction with the outcome of the talks and expressed confidence in further fruitful cooperation.

 

Kazakhstan delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu took part in the 80th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The main theme of the session ongoing in the Thai capital is "Leveraging Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific", press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Representatives of Asia-Pacific member states, heads of international organizations and other high-ranking officials attended the event.

Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu noted in his speech that the countries of Asia and the Pacific are becoming a new center of growth of the world economy and a driving force of technological progress. In this context, he stated that in the new economic policy of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the development of innovation and digital technologies are a priority.

Kazakhstan is invariably among the world leaders in the development of fintech sphere, a successful example of which is the Astana International Financial Centre. Our country ranks 28th in the world in the provision of e-government services and 8th in the quality of online services.

Murat Nurtleu invited ESCAP member states to mutually beneficial cooperation with Astana Hub - the largest IT startup park in Central Asia. Currently, more than 900 companies, including Google, Microsoft, Huawei and many others, are successfully operating in Kazakhstan.

Considering that digital solutions play an important role in the development of transport interconnectivity, the Kazakh diplomat called for strengthening coordination between the countries of the region and adoption of the new ESCAP Convention on uniform rules and standards in the transit sector.

Within the framework of participation in the session, Foreign Minister Nurtleu held talks with Armida Alisjahbana, the UN Under Secretary General - Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

Parties discussed joint initiatives on holding under the auspices of the UN Ministerial Conference on Digital Technologies in Astana in September 2024 and establishment of the Center for Digital Solutions in Almaty. Kazakhstan is initially ready to share more than 20 specific digital solutions with other member states of the Commission.

On the sidelines of the session, Kazakh Foreign Minister also held talks with Fatima Rabab, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. The two sides discussed preparations for the third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

In addition, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan also organized a side event on the theme "Digital Expansion: Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals".

 

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin held a meeting with Chairman (Akim) Anwar ul-Haq of the Capital Development Authority, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

They discussed about establishing cooperation between Astana and Islamabad, taking into account various sectors including economic collaboration, urban development, infrastructure, landscaping, cultural exchanges, and tourism.

While speaking about the current Kazakh-Pakistani agenda, Ambassador Kistafin particularly emphasized the importance of expanding ties at level of regional and local authorities. He also noted the significant potential for strengthening the dialogue between the authorities of both Capitals, Astana and Islamabad.

In response, Chairman Anwar ul-Haq expressed keen interest in advancing cooperation with Astana, highlighting trade, economics, culture, and humanitarian efforts at priority. As a preliminary step, he proposed organising online negotiations to identify potential areas for joint projects.

Chairman Anwar ul-Haq also showed interest in social development model of Kazakhstan, particularly its achievements in promoting interethnic and interfaith dialogue.

 

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Lithuania, with technical support of the national film studio "Kazakhfilm", organized the Kazakh Cinema Days in Vilnius dedicated to the 110th anniversary of Shaken Aimanov, the founder of Kazakh cinema, and the 90th anniversary of the film company. Representatives of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas), diplomatic corps, mass media, Kazakh diaspora and public figures attended the screening, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Opening the screening, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Lithuania Timur Urazaev noted the close cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries and the mutual interest of citizens in the cultural process. It was noted that the Kazakh steppe has historically been a haven for different ethnic groups, in the XIX-XX centuries having received settlers, exiles and repressed people, among whom were several thousand Lithuanians. Kazakhs have always lent a helping hand in a difficult moment, which made our society multinational and multi-confessional. It is not by chance that Astana became the venue for the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions - a unique dialogue platform in the modern world. The screening of the film "The Voice of the Steppe" very accurately conveys the essence of the historical drama characteristic of Kazakhstan.

Deputy Speaker of the Seimas Jonas Jarutis noted the positive experience of interethnic harmony in Kazakhstan and expressed gratitude to our people for helping exiled Lithuanians during the years of political repression and deportation to the Kazakh steppes.

The film "Kazakh Khanate. Golden Throne", presented to the Lithuanian audience on the second day, was filmed based on the famous novel "Nomads" by Ilyas Esenberlin and covers the events of the 15th century, when the process of formation of the first Kazakh state was actively underway. The film was screened on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the formation of the Ulus Juchi and the 5th World Nomad Games, which will be held in Astana from 8 to 14 September this year.

Lithuanian viewers were interested in the production of Kazakh cinema and received virtual access to the archives of "Kazakhfilm", reflecting the evolution of Kazakh cinema.

 

Over 35 various events will be held jointly in the cities and provinces of China as part of the Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China, Kazakh Ambassador to China Shakhrat Nuryshev told a briefing in Beijing, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Tourist roadshows of the cities and regions of Kazakhstan, press tours for bloggers and mass media, forums and concerts will take place as the Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China. Besides, Kazakhstan will attend large international tourism events in China.

The ambassador said 217,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan in 2023 that is 13 times more compared to 2022.

As earlier reported, the ceremony of opening the Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China took in Beijing on March 29. A tourist exhibition featuring all regions of Kazakhstan took place as part of the tourism and investments forum in Beijing held on the eve of the opening ceremony.

Last November Kazakhstan and China introduced a visa free regime for their citizens.

 

In Cyberjaya, Kazakh Ambassador to Malaysia Bulat Sugurbaev held a meeting with the Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Mohamad Salim Bin Fateh Din, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects of cooperation in the field of communications and digital technologies, as well as current challenges in this industry. Special attention was paid to the issues of legislative regulation in the field of children’s and families’ rights, development of 5G infrastructure, successful experience of Kazakhstan in the field of digitalization and development of e-government.

The Chairman of the Commission proposed to establish cooperation in the context of improving the quality of life of the population, taking into account the growing role of digital technologies.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with the German delegation led by member of the Bundestag and Foreign Policy Spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party Nils Schmid, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Nils Schmid expressed words of support to the people of Kazakhstan and wished a soon recovery from the consequences of the floods.

The meeting focused on the role of parliamentary diplomacy in broadening Kazakh-German cooperation. The parties also exchanged views on the issues on the international agenda.

The parties also discussed issues related to regional cooperation with Germany, following the official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Berlin and his participation in the first meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany in September 2023 that provided a qualitatively new substance to the whole spectrum of the relationship between Astana and Berlin.

Deputy Minister Vassilenko confirmed the interest of the Kazakh side in maintaining an active political dialogue and strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Germany. In this context, the parties reviewed opportunities to increase engagement in such priority areas as environment and climate change, management of water resources, transport and logistics.

The German side welcomed the ongoing political and socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan, noting the importance of the new legislation on criminalizing domestic abuse. Member of the Bundestag Nils Schmid noted that the protection of women in the society promotes their active representation in all spheres of a country’s life.

In conclusion, the parties agreed to maintain an active dialogue between the parliaments, research funds and experts.

 

The annual general meeting of the Kazakhstan-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group held in the Parliament of Canada, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

At the beginning of the event, members of the Canadian Parliament expressed their support to Kazakhstan in connection with major floods in a number of regions of the country, praising the actions of the Kazakh authorities in the fight against the natural disaster and its consequences.

Canadian parliamentarians also supported the policy of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to carry out large-scale democratic reforms, including in the field of human rights protection and ensuring the principles of the rule of law. In this context, the legislators welcomed the adoption on April 15 this year of a package of laws aimed at toughening penalties in the field of domestic violence.

Special attention during the meeting was paid to the development of Kazakh-Canadian relations, as well as parliamentary ties between the two countries. Canadian parliamentarians expressed their readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in promoting bilateral cooperation, including in the field of agriculture, energy, transportation and logistics, digital technologies and education.

Following the event, the two sides agreed to organize a visit of the Canadian parliamentary delegation to Kazakhstan in 2024.