Kazakhstan, Turkey agree to expand trade cooperation

Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to expand trade and economic cooperation, Kazakh foreign ministry reported Oct 20.

The meeting of two ministers took place in Kazakh city of Almaty within the third meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group of two countries.

"The foreign ministers agreed to actively promote the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries, and facilitate the effective work of the Kazakh-Turkish Intergovernmental Economic Commission,” the ministry said.

During the meeting the sides also discussed cooperation in tourism, transport and logistics, military-technical and defense industry, and fight against extremism and terrorism.

Special attention was paid to the implementation of the agreements reached during the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Turkey in April and August 2016, as well as to preparation for the meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council under the heads of two countries scheduled for next year.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the investment sphere and prospects of creation of joint Kazakh-Turkish investment and infrastructure funds which will invest in joint projects. Idrissov invited Turkish companies to work in Kazakhstan and noted that it will open them an access to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union, Central Asia, Russia and China.

Idrissov and Cavusoglu exchanged views on topical international and regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine. They expressed mutual interest in strengthening the cooperation within the framework of such multilateral formats as the UN, CICA, OIC, Turkic Council and others.