Georgian, Kazakh parliamentary leaders explore deeper bilateral cooperation

The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, held a meeting with Yerlan Koshanov, the chairman of the Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, to discuss avenues for enhancing bilateral parliamentary and sectoral cooperation.

According to the Georgian Parliament, the discussions underscored the enduring friendly relations between Georgia and Kazakhstan, reflecting on their shared history and envisioning a future of strengthened partnership, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

Papuashvili recalled his official visit to Kazakhstan last year and emphasized the importance of a reciprocal visit by Koshanov. He stated, “I also wish to express our gratitude for Kazakhstan’s steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Koshanov noted that this is the first official visit of the Mazhilis Chairman to Georgia, adding that it is expected to “give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations.”

The sides explored opportunities to further strengthen parliamentary ties, positively evaluating the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the parliaments during the visit. They also acknowledged the active exchanges between parliamentary friendship groups and highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation between sectoral committees and parliamentary staff.

Discussions extended to trade, economic development, transport, energy, investment, tourism, culture, and youth engagement, with both parties expressing keen interest in sharing expertise on digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The meeting also highlighted the strategic significance of Georgia and Kazakhstan as key countries along the Silk Road, noting that collaboration on the Middle Corridor is particularly crucial for global trade. The top lawmakers emphasized the importance of the joint multimodal venture established in 2023 at the Astana International Financial Centre, which strengthens regional transit and economic cooperation.

Koshanov additionally discussed Kazakhstan’s planned transition to a unicameral parliamentary system and the introduction of party-list elections, expressing interest in Georgia’s experience with these processes.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepening bilateral ties, promoting regional connectivity, and expanding cooperation across economic, technological, and cultural sectors.

By Vafa Guliyeva