Iran, Kazakhstan resume political talks after four years

Iranian and Kazakh diplomats held a new round of political consultations between the two Asian states after a four-year hiatus.

In the meeting held in Tehran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri and his Kazakh counterpart Alibek Bakayev talked about ways to expand relations between Iran and Kazakhstan and discussed a broad range of regional and international issues, Tasnim reports.

The two diplomats also weighed plans for the conclusion of a road map to bilateral trade, the facilitation of economic relations and trade exchanges, the promotion of cultural and scientific cooperation, such as the exchange of academics, and closer ties in the tourism industry.

Highlighting the impact of international cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan on strengthened multilateral mechanisms, Baqeri said closer interaction between the two states within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) will help promote sustainable security in the region.

In a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in New York in September, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised Iran as a “strategic partner” and a close friend of his country, calling for stronger cooperation between the two Asian states.