Int'l trade in foodstuffs, fertilizer should not be affected by sanctions - Kazakh president

ASTANA. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan will further use its agricultural potential to fight global food shortages, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, speaking at the Voice of Global South online summit on Friday.

"The president said that Kazakhstan is planning to keep using its agricultural potential to fight the global shortages of food. In his view, international food and fertilizer trade should not be subjected to sanctions or any other restrictions," the Kazakh presidential press service said in a statement.

In this context, Tokayev backed the call of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for depoliticizing global supplies of foodstuffs, fertilizers and medical products.

Tokayev also noted that it is especially important in the current geopolitical situation to have a reliable and diversified global transit and transport infrastructure, his press service said.

Kazakhstan is working on the diversification of transport routes and actively developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, Tokayev said.

"The president believes it is expedient to take new joint measures aimed at mitigating the threats of pandemics and biological risks. In this regard, the leader of Kazakhstan again recalled the initiative of creating an international biological safety agency, which he had come up with earlier," Tokayev's press service said.

Tokayev on Friday attended a virtual summit held under the "unity of voice, unity of purpose" motto at the invitation of India's Narendra Modi. A number of national leaders from Asia, Africa, and Latin America also took part in the summit.