Kazakhstan ready to help stabilize energy prices on European, global markets - Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN. July 4 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is ready to help stabilize the energy security situation in Europe and the world, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

"Tokayev expressed concern about the threats to global energy security. In his words, Kazakhstan is ready to use its hydrocarbon potential for the sake of stabilization of the global and European markets," the Kazakh presidential press service said on Monday, following a phone call between Tokayev and European Council President Charles Michel.

In addition, Tokayev urged the European Union to cooperate in the development of transcontinental transport corridors.

"Kazakhstan could make a contribution by playing the role of a certain 'buffer market' between the East and the West and the South and the North," the press service quoted him as saying.

Tokayev invited the European Union to cooperate in the development of alternate transcontinental corridors, including the Trans-Caspian international transport route.

During the conversation, the Kazakh president underlined the importance of joint efforts towards an improvement of the international situation and the establishment of trust-based dialogue on the most pressing problems.

Kazakhstan has become the first country to sign an enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, which "brings our relations to a new level," Tokayev said. "Our country is committed to the development of stable relations with the EU, Kazakhstan's largest trade partner," the press service said.

In addition, the sides had a detailed discussion of regional and global affairs and expressed concern about the escalating food crisis.

Chairman of the Kazakh Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms Aset Irgaliyev said on June 22, that Kazakhstan is ready to connect local transit routes to the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) to integrate land trade between the East and the West.