The Austrian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Kazakhstan Wolfgang Banyai, Romanian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Nikolae Ureke, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Van Hoa, Georgian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador David Mumladze, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain Manuel Larrocha Parada, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands Peter Van Leuven and Turkish Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Omer Burhan Tuzel delivered credentials to President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Addressing the participants of the ceremony, the head of state congratulated the ambassadors on the commencement of their diplomatic mission in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
“I believe that your activity will be focused on strengthening of trust, mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation. The year of 2012 is of great significance for the foreign policy of Kazakhstan. We celebrate the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the diplomatic relations with your countries. Over these years the country has underwent large-scale changes that made a positive influence to the development of bilateral relations”, Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed.
The President emphasized that Kazakhstan established active cooperation with the Turkish Republic which was first to recognize the independence of our country.
“Over the past years, Kazakhstan and Turkey adopted a Strategic Plan of Relations. In October 2009, a historical document, the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Turkish Republic was signed as well. I consider it is important to further strengthen Kazakh-Turkish relations in trade and economy, investment sphere, influenced by the joint program “New Synergy” adopted during the last visit of Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayiip Erdogan. I think that my visit to Turkey will be fruitful as well”, Nursultan Nazarbayev stated.
The high level of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Spain is marked by the intensive political dialogue and dynamic development of trade and economic cooperation.
“In 2009, Kazakhstan signed a Treaty on Strategic Partnership with Spain. I appreciate our close cooperation with King of Spain Juan Carlos I that promotes to expand bilateral relations’ potential. According to our agreement achieved in Seoul, His Majesty the King of Spain, as well as Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy are expected to pay an official visits to Astana in 2013. It is important to boost our cooperation in non-raw materials sectors of economy, including the fields of technologies and innovations transfer”, the head of state highlighted.
Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s intention to develop the mutually beneficial cooperation with the Austrian Republic.
“I will pay an official visit to Vienna in October. I hope it will give a strong impetus to the development of Kazakh-Austrian relations. Austria ranks seventh among all trade partners of Kazakhstan. The volume of bilateral trade increased by 49 percent and reached US$ 4 billion. Kazakhstan is interested in the cooperation with this country, especially in the area of innovations and modern technologies”, the President of Kazakhstan highlighted.
The head of state pointed out that Netherlands is one of Kazakhstan’s main trade partners.
“I would like to emphasize the fruitful cooperation with Netherlands in the investment and trade spheres. During the years of independence, the total of investment channeled by the Dutch businessmen in the economy of Kazakhstan amounted to US$ 40 million with the trade reached about US$ 7 billion in 2011. We invite your companies to actively participate in modernization of the economy of Kazakhstan. Our country is interested in cooperation with Netherlands in the filed of new technologies and innovations. In this regard, the Business Council “Kazakhstan-Benelux” could play an important role”, Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed.
Kazakhstan attaches a special importance to the comprehensive cooperation with Romania.
“Your country is a leading trading partner of Kazakhstan in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Kazakh-Romanian turnover already reached US$ two and a half billion in 2011. The acquisition by the KazMunaiGas Company the 100 percent equity interest of The Rompetrol Holding is the largest investment project of Kazakhstan in the European Union. The geographic location of the two countries open broad opportunities for the development of cooperation in the transport and transit sphere”, the head of state said.
President Nazarbayev stressed that Kazakhstan considers Vietnam as an important and prospective partner in Southeast Asia.
Kazakhstan also attaches a special importance to the development and strengthening of bilateral relations with Georgia.
“We consider your country as a promising trading partner in the South Caucasus. We develop positive investment cooperation. Direct investment from Kazakhstan to the economy of this country made more than US$ 200 million. We are also interested in the transit of our goods to world markets through the territory of Georgia”, the President said.