Kazakhstan, Turkey agree on expanded strategic partnership

NUR-SULTAN. May 11 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a joint statement on expanded strategic partnership on Tuesday.

"Kazakhstan views Turkey as one of the most important and reliable partners on the Eurasian continent. The relations between our countries and peoples, based on common history and spiritual heritage, are continuing to develop towards the level of strategic partnership," the Kazakh presidential press service quoted Tokayev as saying.

Official delegations from both countries held talks in Ankara on Tuesday during a state visit of the Kazakh president to Turkey.

Tokayev highlighted the dynamic development of bilateral relations.

"Turkey is listed among the top five trade partners of Kazakhstan. The trade turnover between our countries has been growing year upon year. It exceeded $5 billion in 2021. We should keep the pace and bring it to $10 billion," he said.

Kazakhstan is ready to support every initiative of Turkish investors and to create favorable climate for them, Tokayev said.

"I will meet with the leading Turkish investors tomorrow to discuss ways of the development of investment cooperation. A number of commercial agreements with a total value of $1 billion will be signed as a result of the meeting," he said.

For his part, Erdogan declared the readiness to bring bilateral relations to a new level and expressed support for the reforms underway in Kazakhstan.

"We are bringing our interaction to the level of expanded strategic partnership. Turkey and Kazakhstan are two fraternal countries. [....] The Turkish people attribute high significance to peace and stability in Kazakhstan. Your enthusiasm and determination in building new Kazakhstan deserve profound respect. I support the ongoing extensive reforms in your country," the press service quoted Erdogan as saying.

A number of documents were signed at the end of negotiations in the presence of the two heads of state. These include intergovernmental agreements on international multimodal cargo transportation, information exchange and liberalization of customs control, cooperation in plant quarantine and protection, cooperation in education, and some other documents.