During a working visit to Astana , Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte engaged in talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Rutte had visited Astana back in 2010 during his first trip outside the EU as Prime Minister, and had not been back since his second visit in 2015.
According to reports issued by press service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the leaders’ discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in various sectors including trade and economics, energy, and investment, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Information was also exchanged on their respective countries’ practices regarding transport, innovation, nuclear energy, agriculture, health, climate, and water management.
Welcoming the opportunity to expand dialogue on the above issues, Tokayev emphasized, “I would like to note the dynamic development of our bilateral cooperation. The Netherlands is the largest investor in our economy. The volume of direct investments has exceeded 120 billion dollars. Our countries are implementing large-scale joint projects.”
Furthermore, the President stated that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands’s visit would provide additional impetus to the development of trade and economic relations between Astana and Amsterdam.
Mark Rutte expressed his appreciation of the level of bilateral partnership enjoyed by their countries and spoke in favor of intensifying practical cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands.
Turning to environmental issues, he confirmed, ” We will be happy to share ideas and developments that we have in the field of agriculture, green energy, water management.”
Views were also exchanged on current issues on the international and regional agenda and both leaders stressed the importance of continued dialogue within the framework of interaction with the European Union.
