Kazakhstan sees Germany as key strategic European partner - Tokayev

ASTANA. Sept 29 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have held talks in a narrow format, the Kazakhstani leader's press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

Germany is Kazakhstan's key strategic partner in Europe and their bilateral cooperation is based on mutual trust, respect and shared interests, Tokayev said, thanking Steinmeier for the accorded welcome and the invitation to visit Germany, the statement said.

Next year marks the 35th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations and significant progress has been achieved across the whole spectrum of cooperation over the three decades, Tokayev said.

For his part, the German president said he highly appreciated Tokayev's personal contribution in broadening the multifaceted cooperation between Astana and Berlin and expressed confidence that the current visit would lend additional impetus to the bilateral relations and take them to a whole new level.

It was reported that Tokayev on Monday arrived in Berlin for an official visit at Steinmeier's invitation, where he is also scheduled to hold talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Earlier on Tuesday, Tokayev met with a number of German business executives. The president will also visit Munich to attend a tech business forum.