Kazakhstan Offers Laos New Transport Route to Europe
Kazakhstan has invited Laos to use its transport corridors to ship goods to Central Asia and Europe, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during talks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, according to the Akorda presidential press service.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan could increase exports to the Lao market in sectors including metals, food, petrochemicals, agriculture, chemicals, mechanical engineering and pharmaceuticals.
The two sides placed particular emphasis on transportation and logistics.
"Our country handles about 85% of overland freight traffic between China and Europe. Kazakhstan operates terminals at the ports of Batumi in Georgia and Lianyungang in China. We have also opened a Kazakh logistics hub in the Chinese city of Xi’an, which Lao freight carriers can use. We see an opportunity for Lao products to reach markets in Central Asia and Europe through our transport corridors," Tokayev said.
The president proposed that the two governments sign agreements on transportation and logistics. Kazakhstan, for its part, is interested in using Laos as a gateway for its products to Southeast Asian markets.
Tokayev also invited Lao companies to use the Astana International Financial Centre. More than 6,300 companies from over 90 countries are currently registered at the AIFC, which has helped attract $27 billion in investment to Kazakhstan.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in education, culture and tourism, including academic exchanges, partnerships between universities and opportunities for Lao specialists to study in Kazakhstan.
Sisoulith highlighted Kazakhstan’s contribution to training Lao professionals.
"Hundreds of Lao citizens received their education and graduated from educational institutions in Kazakhstan. Today, many of them work in public service, run businesses and hold senior positions at the national and local levels," the Lao president said.
Following the talks, Tokayev and Sisoulith adopted a joint statement on further expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Laos.
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