Tokayev, Scholz hold talks in extended format
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held talks in an extended format with the participation of members of the official delegations, Akorda reports.
During the talks, the Kazakh leader pointed out the special importance of the first official visit of the German Chancellor to Kazakhstan and expressed confidence that today’s meeting will help bring the multifaceted cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany to a new level.
We just discussed the prospects for further enhancement of bilateral relations in private talks. Special attention was placed to the deepening of integration in the trade and economic as well as investment spheres. In addition, we discussed the ongoing global issues, in particular, an exchange of views on the current geopolitical situation, global security and regional development as well as climate change took place. Cooperation prospects within the international organizations were discussed as well. The bilateral relations are being developed in a spirit of strategic partnership. I’m confident that today’s talks will contribute to greater contacts, said Tokayev.
As the Head of State noted, Germany is among main trade partners of Kazakhstan and is one of the top investors in the Kazakh economy.
Last year saw the bilateral trade turnover rise almost 1.5fold to around four billion US dollars. Positive dynamics continues this year. In the past seven months, the volume of mutual trade exceeded 2.3 billion US dollars. Since 2005, direct investments from Germany have totaled around 6.7 billion US dollars. It’s encouraging that 90% of all the investments fall at the non-primary sector. There are over a thousand companies with Germany capital in Kazakhstan, said the Kazakh President.
For his part, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz thanked Tokayev for the hospitality he received on the Kazakh soil and noted the dynamic development of bilateral relations.
We’re committed to do our utmost to improve conditions for our economic relations, to make direct investments in your country, expand opportunities for mutual trade. Of course, we strive to promote economic cooperation in all other areas. We’re very pleased that our countries enjoy progressive cooperation in the energy field. We have established trust-based, consistent cooperation, which is a good example for the entire world. It’s encouraging that discussions on the important international challenges facing us took place, said Olaf Scholz.
The sides confirmed their interest in boosting mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, especially in the field of energy, green transformation, mining, transport and logistics, climate protection, ecology and agriculture. The prospects to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and Germany were discussed as well.
