Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom are forging ahead with their longstanding partnership, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to bolstering their cooperative ties during the 7th Session of the Kazakh-UK Strategic Dialogue. Led by Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and the UK's Parliamentary Secretary of State for Europe at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Leo Docherty MP, this high-level diplomatic meeting took place with the goal of advancing their multifaceted relationship.
The session encompassed discussions on key issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as the exchange of perspectives on the broader multilateral and regional agendas. Deputy Foreign Minister Vassilenko emphasized Kazakhstan's dedication to enhancing its strategic partnership with the United Kingdom, emphasizing the active political engagement, burgeoning trade and investment dynamics, and the expansion of the legal framework underpinning their cooperation.
Leo Docherty MP, representing the UK, expressed the United Kingdom's appreciation for its partnership with Kazakhstan, acknowledging its significance within regional engagement and energy cooperation with Europe.
“The UK highly appreciates its partnership with Kazakhstan, including within the context of regional engagement and energy cooperation with Europe,” Docherty voiced.
One significant development that emerged from the session was the advanced preparations for signing a bilateral Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. This agreement is anticipated to elevate the existing intergovernmental partnership between Kazakhstan and the UK to a higher level of cooperation. Deputy Minister Vassilenko also affirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to fostering an inclusive dialogue between the foreign ministries of both nations.
The 7th Session of the Kazakh-UK Strategic Dialogue placed a spotlight on various key areas of collaboration, including transport and logistics, critical minerals and renewable energy, environment, and healthcare. Deputy Minister Vassilenko, recognizing the immense potential for productive collaboration in the field of education, called for the advancement of cooperation in opening branches of UK universities in Kazakhstan and simplifying arrangements to strengthen people-to-people ties. Additionally, both parties deliberated over the exchange of information and research pertaining to British archival data concerning Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region.
The Kazakh-UK Strategic Dialogue is a vital mechanism for engagement between the two nations. The previous session of the dialogue was convened in London in December 2022, where the Foreign Ministers of both countries led discussions.
The United Kingdom occupies a significant role as a political, trade, economic, and investment partner for Kazakhstan. In 2022, the countries marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Last year, the bilateral trade volume between Kazakhstan and the UK increased by more than 60% compared to 2021, reaching a total of $1.8 bn, with $1.5 bn in exports and $384.3 mn in imports. During the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade further expanded to $879 mn, with $559 mn in exports and $320 mn in imports.
The United Kingdom ranks among the top 10 largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan, with $661 mn in foreign direct investment (FDI) flowing into Kazakhstan's economy from the UK last year, and over $16 bn in total since 2005. Currently, there are approximately 600 companies with British capital registered in Kazakhstan, contributing to the strengthening of economic ties between the two nations.
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