The official visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to Italy marked a significant diplomatic event as he held talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Akorda reported. The leaders met at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, where they engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between their two nations.
The official visit commenced with a grand welcoming ceremony, complete with the raising of the Kazakh flag and the playing of both countries' anthems. Following the formalities, President Tokayev expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by President Mattarella, highlighting the enduring nature of the ties between Kazakhstan and Italy, a reliable partner within the European Union.
In his remarks, President Tokayev outlined the agenda for the discussions, focusing on the development of economic ties, strengthening bilateral relations, and addressing current international challenges.
"Today I would like to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the development of economic ties and strengthening relations aimed at the prosperity of the two countries, as well as ways to solve current international problems," Tokayev stated, emphasizing the historical significance of this visit.
The economic dimension of the Kazakh-Italian relationship was a central theme of the talks. President Tokayev underscored Italy's status as one of Kazakhstan's key trading partners in Europe, with the volume of mutual trade surpassing $14.5bn. Anticipating further growth, Tokayev expressed optimism that the trade turnover would reach $20bn in the foreseeable future. Notably, Italy is a significant investor in Kazakhstan's economy, with around 300 Italian companies, including flagship company Eni, actively operating in the Kazakh market.
President Tokayev also highlighted the potential for collaboration in various sectors beyond the economic sphere, such as culture and tourism. The president conveyed his confidence that the partnership between Kazakhstan and Italy would yield fruitful results.
Green energy emerged as a key focus during the discussions, with President Tokayev detailing the attractive and promising sectors of Kazakhstan's economy for foreign investors. The leaders discussed the need to give additional impetus to cooperation in various fields, including green energy, cultural exchange, and tourism.
The talks extended to global affairs, with the leaders emphasizing the importance of strengthening international relations and global security based on the principles of the UN Charter. Kazakhstan and Italy are committed to working together on the world stage, including within the UN and OSCE.
The discussions also delved into the prospects for cooperation between Kazakhstan and Central Asia with the European Union. Both leaders expressed interest in fostering mutually beneficial collaboration in transport and logistics, particularly highlighting the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
President Tokayev seized the opportunity to congratulate President Mattarella on Italy's accession to the chairmanship of the G7. He wished him success in implementing the G7 agenda, underscoring the significance of Italy's role in shaping global economic policies.
In response, President Mattarella expressed Italy's keen interest in Kazakhstan's ongoing political and social modernization. He thanked President Tokayev for the visit and expressed confidence that the outcomes of the negotiations would contribute to the strengthening of bilateral economic, political, cultural, and humanitarian ties.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with President Tokayev extending an invitation to President Mattarella to visit Kazakhstan, an invitation that was warmly accepted. The two leaders proceeded with further discussions in the format of a working lunch, cementing the commitment to deepening the partnership between Kazakhstan and Italy.
Italy holds a significant position as Kazakhstan's third-largest global partner and stands out as its foremost trading ally in Europe. The recent discussions highlight the thriving collaboration spanning multiple sectors, such as energy, natural resource exploration, construction, infrastructure, transport, communications, agriculture, scientific and technological activities, and consulting services. Notably, the robust relationship between the two nations is underscored by the substantial gross inflow of direct investments from Italy to Kazakhstan, totaling $7.3bn between 2005 and 2022. This places Italy in the 12th position among countries contributing substantially to Kazakhstan's economic growth.
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