Nazarbayev: Kazakhstan interested in developing friendly relations based on trust with Egypt
ASTANA. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in the course of his official visit to Astana, discussed with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev cooperation in trade, economy, agriculture, pharmaceutical industry, infrastructure construction, transportation and logistics, Nazarbayev's press service reports.
Nazarbayev said that the first visit by al-Sisi to Kazakhstan, as the president of Egypt, will give a new impetus to the strengthening of partnership between the two countries.
"This country is interested in developing friendly relations based on trust with Egypt. This year, Kazakhstan will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its independence. We remember that in 1991, Egypt was the first among Arab states to recognize our independence. Since then, much has been done for the rapprochement of our countries and nations, and during these years I have visited Egypt on numerous occasions," the press release quotes Nazarbayev as saying.
The Kazakh president noted that, despite lying far away from each other geographically, the two countries have a large potential for the development of transport and transit links.
According to Nazarbayev, al-Sisi came to head Egypt at a difficult time.
"We are very pleased that despite the domestic conflicts, bloodshed and revolution that have taken place in recent years, the Egyptian people have consolidated and expressed confidence in the new president. In a recent speech in parliament, you set new goals and objectives that are clear and close to us. Egypt is one of the largest states in the Middle East, and we want to continue our confiding dialogue on issues of economic cooperation in the current global market," Nazarbayev said.
For his part, al-Sisi said that the Egyptian people and the leadership of the country appreciated the standard of bilateral cooperation between Astana and Cairo.
"We appreciate the support that Kazakhstan gave us during the difficult period for our country. The purpose of my visit is to further strengthen the close ties between our two countries in all directions," al-Sisi said.
