Kazakh leader meets EU Council chief in Astana, discusses visa facilitation

Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) are set to begin preparations for concluding agreements to simplify visa-related procedures.

The announcement was made by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with European Council President António Costa, who is in Kazakhstan on an official visit for the first time, Caliber.Az reports, citing Tokayev’s press service (Akorda).

“Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the agreements reached to begin preparations for concluding visa facilitation and readmission agreements. According to Tokayev, Kazakhstan highly values the EU’s active dialogue with Central Asia within the C5+EU format, which promotes the advancement of common interests in sustainable growth and connectivity,” the Akorda statement said.

The Kazakh leader paid special attention to humanitarian cooperation. He expressed gratitude for the EU educational programs, which have enabled over 5,000 Kazakh students and faculty members to study and participate in internships in EU countries.

Tokayev stated that the C5+ dialogue has become an effective instrument for implementing regional development priorities.

Moreover, Tokayev emphasised the symbolic nature of Costa’s visit, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. He noted that Kazakhstan is the first country in the region to have concluded such a historic agreement with the European Union.

“We attach great importance to your visit. It is yet another demonstration of our mutual readiness to further expand comprehensive cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union. We support a strong and substantive partnership based on mutual respect and understanding. Our political dialogue is dynamic and develops across many areas of mutual interest. In this regard, I highly appreciate the results of the EU–Kazakhstan Cooperation Council meeting, which took place a few days ago in Brussels,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

He also noted that the European Union remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading and investment partner.

Tokayev highlighted that bilateral trade reached around $50 billion last year, while the total volume of investments since 2005 has amounted to nearly $200 billion. Kazakhstan accounts for 80 percent of the EU’s trade with Central Asia.

He also preaised the active presence of more than 4,000 European companies in Kazakhstan.

For his part, António Costa expressed gratitude to Tokayev for the warm reception and noted the high dynamics of Kazakh-European interaction. Costa affirmed the EU’s readiness to further deepen comprehensive cooperation.

“Over the past ten years, the European Union has become Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and foreign investor. At the same time, Kazakhstan, which ranks third in oil and uranium exports, plays a key role in ensuring Europe’s economic security. Clearly, today we are entering a new phase of strengthening our relations and developing economic ties,” said the President of the European Council.

Costa also emphasised that the European Union and Kazakhstan share a common vision of the world, based on commitment to multilateralism and an international order grounded in the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. These principles form the basis of efforts to ensure security, stability, and prosperity worldwide, he added.

Costa further noted that cooperation with Central Asian countries is an important element in developing and practically advancing relations in today’s multilateral world. In this context, he highly appreciated the personal efforts of President Tokayev to strengthen peace in the Caucasus. In his view, ensuring security in the region opens new opportunities for the development of the Trans-Caspian corridor, which will connect Europe through the Caucasus and the Black Sea.

During the meeting, a wide range of cooperation issues was discussed, with particular attention paid to transportation and logistics, digitalization, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, and other promising areas.

By Khagan Isayev