Turkic-speaking countries' top leaders: Kazakh President Tokayev and Turkish President Erdogan co-chair the fifth meeting of the Kazakhstan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Commission

Kazakh International News Agency - According to the presidential press office, on July 29, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Kazakhstan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Commission.

During the meeting, President Tokayev pointed out that Turkey is a brotherly country and a nation with blood ties for Kazakhstan. He emphasized that Kazakhstan and Turkey continue to develop their strategic partnership based on common history and spiritual values.

"We are committed to continuing this positive momentum and raising bilateral relations to a higher level. Mr. President, I highly value the small-scale meeting we just had with you. We once again firmly expressed our willingness to expand cooperation. We have the ability and enthusiasm to achieve this goal. A wide legal framework has already been established between the two countries, and so far, more than 60 bilateral treaties and agreements have been signed. Today, a series of new bilateral agreements will also be signed," said President Tokayev.

The meeting discussed the issue of expanding bilateral trade volume. Last year, the trade volume between the two countries reached 5 billion US dollars, and there is still great potential for growth in the future. President Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan is ready to supply at least 34 different products worth nearly 1 billion US dollars to the Turkish market. At the same time, increasing the variety of products from Turkey is also crucial.

Both sides emphasized the key role of the transportation logistics sector in expanding commodity circulation. President Tokayev pointed out that Kazakhstan will focus on developing the trans-Caspian international transport route and expressed willingness to attract Turkish investment in modern railway, inland port, freight station, and shipbuilding projects.

"The reforms implemented by Kazakhstan to enhance investment attractiveness will provide rich opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs," said Tokayev.

He emphasized that Kazakhstan, as an open and reliable partner, is always ready to support Turkish investors.

In addition, the meeting also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector and explored increasing oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

President Tokayev invited Turkish companies to participate in projects aimed at addressing energy shortages and stated that he believes the cooperation between Kazakhstan's state oil and gas company (KazMunayGas) and Turkey's petroleum company (Turkiye Petroleum) will yield fruitful results.

President Tokayev pointed out that Kazakhstan's new tax code provides special preferential policies for encouraging the deep processing of raw materials, including a royalty system. Turkish investors can participate in new projects in the mineral and natural resource development field by establishing joint funds.

The prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural sector are broad. One quarter of Kazakhstan's grain, one third of its cotton, and 26% of its gluten are exported to Turkey. Overall, 23 agricultural investment projects have been launched in collaboration with Turkish enterprises, with a total value of 1.3 billion US dollars. Of these, 18 projects have already been operational, and their products have entered the international market.

Both sides also discussed the prospects for cooperation in areas such as defense industry, information technology, artificial intelligence, finance, civil aviation, culture, education, health, and tourism.

Cooperation in the field of education between the two countries has a long history. In the future, two schools of the M. Ali Fethullah Foundation will be opened in Astana and Almaty, as well as branches of top Turkish universities.

According to the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan, a new school was started in the earthquake-stricken area of Gaziantep province in Turkey last December, and it will be put into use next year.

In addition, to support the positive development of tourism and promote comprehensive bilateral relations, Kazakhstan has decided to allow Turkish citizens to enter without a visa for 90 days.

President Erdogan of Turkey greeted the Kazakh delegation and specially paid tribute to President Tokayev, saying "Welcome to your second homeland." He also celebrated the 180th anniversary of the great poet and thinker Abai Kunanbayev of Kazakhstan.

"We place great importance on cooperation with Kazakhstan. Now, the relationship between the two countries has been elevated to the level of strategic partnership. We are committed to further deepening this positive momentum in the fields of trade, defense industry, agriculture, tourism, and culture. Kazakhstan is our largest trading partner in Central Asia. We will continue to work to increase the trade volume to 15 billion US dollars," said President Erdogan.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the Kazakhstan government Serik Zhumankhin and Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauanbaev made speeches; on the Turkish side, the Foreign Minister Hakkan Fidan made a speech.

On the evening of the 28th, President Tokayev arrived in Ankara by private jet, and President Erdogan personally welcomed the Kazakh President at the airport.

Previously reported, President Erdogan held a grand welcome ceremony for the visiting President Tokayev.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839002767390729/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.