NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — European Council President Donald Tusk continued his Central Asian tour on May 31 with a visit to Kazakhstan, where he held talks with interim President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev.
Tokayev said at the talks that his country will continue its “course toward a comprehensive and constructive partnership with the European Union,” according to the Kazakh presidential website.
Tusk called Kazakhstan an “important and stable partner not only in the region, but also on the global level.”
Tusk arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital, Nur-Sultan, from Tajikistan, where he discussed cooperation with President Emomali Rahmon.
In his remarks after the meeting with President Rahmon on May 30, Tusk said that his visit comes shortly after the launch of the European Union’s new Central Asia Strategy. “I am the first President of the European Council to visit Tajikistan, which is another sign of our commitment to building stronger partnerships with you and the entire region,” Tusk said. “Your strategic location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and the recent positive developments in your region have opened opportunities for a stronger, modern partnership. We value our partnership and would like to see it deepen.”
Tusk also said to Rahmon that “the EU is proposing to share high standards, quality investment, education and trade opportunities and to promote transport, energy and digital connections, in full respect of your sovereignty and interests”.
After Kazakhstan, Tusk’s next stop is Uzbekistan.
The European Council earlier said that during his May 29-June 2 Central Asian tour, Tusk would hold talks with Rahmon, Tokayev, former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev.
The council statement said Tusk’s trip is “a further expression of the EU’s commitment to stronger partnerships with the region and the individual countries,” adding that during his talks, Tusk would focus on regional and bilateral cooperation, climate change, the environment, border management, and regional security.
