The Official Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan to Switzerland has Begun
Bern, September 6, 2021 - Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi is on an official visit to the Swiss Confederation.
Kazakhstan and Switzerland intend to develop mutually beneficial, multifaceted cooperation across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. This was the main goal of the negotiations of the Kazakh Foreign Minister M. Tileuberdi with the Vice-President, Federal Adviser (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis.
"Switzerland is one of the most important politica l and economic partners of Kazakhstan in Europe. We have built a strong relationship based on trust, mutual respect and common priorities. These relations are supported by a reliable partnership in ensuring global and regional security, dynamic trade cooperation, as well as political and interpersonal ties", - said M. Tileuberdi.
Noting the intensification of contacts between the top leadership of Kazakhstan and Switzerland and the growing mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation, the parties agreed to further promote the development of intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary and business ties. In this context, special attention is paid to the preparation of the upcoming official visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Switzerland in November this year.
During the exchange of views on international issues, the parties discussed cooperation within the framework of the UN, the OSCE and other multilateral structures. The agenda of the talks included regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, cooperation with Central Asian countries and water resources management. The sides touched upon the aspects of joint work on official development assistance, in particular, between the Kazakhstan International Development Agency KazAID and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation "The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation".
Following the talks, the heads of delegations signed two intergovernmental agreements on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as on paid employment of family members of employees of diplomatic missions, permanent missions to international organizations and consular institutions.
Taking into account the priority of economic diplomacy in the foreign policy agenda, Minister M. Tileuberdi on the same day, held meetings with the heads of major Swiss companies "Stadler Rail", "Ammann Group", "Sandoz", "KS Genetics", "Inoks Capital" and "Philip Morris International".
Presenting the measures taken to improve the investment climate in Kazakhstan, the Minister acquainted the Swiss partners with a new tool for stimulating investment attraction – the "Strategic Investment Agreement".
The great potential for the development of trade and economic cooperation is confirmed by the interest of Swiss business in the implementation of mutually beneficial projects in Kazakhstan in the chemical, pharmaceutical and machine-building industries, the field of new technologies and energy, the agribusiness and the financial sector. The role and importance of Switzerland as one of the largest foreign economic partners of Kazakhstan was noted. In 2020, Switzerland ranked 3rd in terms of foreign direct investment attracted to Kazakhstan, and 10th in terms of bilateral trade with our country.
During the visit, memorandum of cooperation were also signed between NC "KAZAKH INVEST" JSC and Swiss companies on the implementation of investment projects in the agribusiness and mechanical engineering of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited a special exhibition at the Bern Historical Museum dedicated to unique archival materials from the history of the Kazakh statehood. The museum also hosted the signing ceremony of the agreement "The Heritage of the Turkic Peoples of Central Asia and Switzerland" between the R.B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies, the Bern Historical Museum and the University of Bern.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
