On 31 May, Kazakhstan First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu attended the sixth meeting of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue (ESPD) between Kazakhstan and the United States in Washington,
According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, summaries were provided on recent collaborative initiatives and views on current bilateral and regional issues were synchronized. Plans were outlined for further development and enhancement of the countries’ strategic partnership, with a special emphasis on aspects of political and economic cooperation, as well as the human dimension.
The participants also discussed projected outcomes of the meeting in the U.S in March, between Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Rakhmetullin drew attention to the alignment of the political and democratic transformations declared by President Tokayev on the main issues on the bilateral agenda. He then highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure projects and transportation routes as key elements of bilateral trade and economic interaction. The parties also discussed cooperation in the fields of energy and critical minerals.
The American side praised the steady progress of the bilateral partnership, with reference to projects launched following the C5+1 Presidential Summit in September 2023.
During their visit, the Kazakh delegation also attended separate meetings with leaders of U.S. Administration, the State Department, the Office of the Trade, and other relevant U.S. agencies.
At a round table event with representatives of American civil society, the Kazakh side gave presentations on innovations in national legislation on the protection of human rights in the country.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to further Kazakhstan – U.S. Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue at a meeting scheduled for 2025 in Astana.
