Y.Kazykhanov's meetings in Bonn - bilateral cooperation, prospects of stabilization of Afghanistan

ASTANA. December 6. KAZINFORM Within the International Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov has held a number of meetings with his colleagues from many countries, including Germany, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, Turkmenistan and etc.

The Kazakh MFA's press service reports.

In particular, at the meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs the issues regarding development of bilateral trade-economic interaction, including in the sphere of transport and logistics were discussed. There was expressed mutual opinion, that the cooperation volume does not reflect its potential. They noted the high level of the political dialog and effective activity of the Kazakh-Latvian Intergovernmental Commission, confirming intention to boost partnership on a wide spectrum of cooperation. The issues of cooperation of Kazakhstan with the European Union, the Council of Europe as well as Kazakhstan's bids for membership in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in 2015-2016 and for holding EXPO-2017.

Y.Kazykhanov and Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas considered the prospects of expansion of trade-economic cooperation of Kazakhstan with Portugal. The Ministers outlined importance of conducting an analysis of the state of contractual basis and its expansion and agreed to prepare and carry out the Kazakh-Portuguese business-forum. The Kazakh Minister noted high prospects of participation of the Portuguese business in implementation of the state program of forced industrial innovative development in Kazakhstan, especially, in the sphere of agriculture and agricultural products processing. Paulo Portas emphasized the presence of opportunities for investing in Portugal on the part of the Kazakh companies.

There was also held a meeting of Kazakh Minister Y.Kazykhanov with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake. They discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia.