Minister Idrissov: Kazakhstan, Germany and France to expand dialogue

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Foreign Affairs Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov has participated in the Joint Conference of German and French ambassadors in Central Asia, Russia, China and Afghanistan held in Astana today, the press service of the ministry informs.

According to Minister Idrissov, Kazakhstan sees vast potential for expansion of cooperation with Germany and France in solution of regional issues in Central Asia, including those in the sphere of security, economy, water resources management and protection of environment, development of transit and transport potential. At the conference, Mr. Idrissov outlined the overriding priorities of the Kazakhstan-2050 Development Strategy and the Nurly zhol - Path to the Future program. He stressed that implementation of these grandiose programs will ensure socioeconomic development of Kazakhstan. The Head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry praised dynamic development of commercial and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU, having noted that it is the largest trade partner and investor of Kazakhstan. In his words, the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that will be signed this year has huge potential for further development of cooperation. Minister Idrissov went on by pointing out the importance of deeper Kazakhstan-EU cooperation in countering new challenges in the international arena.