Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and several members of his cabinet are in Kazakhstan on what marks their third official Central Asian trip in less than a month, following the first-ever top-level visits to Kyrgyzstan on June 11-12 and Tajikistan on June 19-20.
During the visit, Kobakhidze and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, the Georgian government administration reported, adding that memorandums of cooperation in culture, information, technology and tourism were also signed between relevant agencies of the two countries.
The high-level delegation, led by Kobakhidze, includes Georgian Dream’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, Agriculture Minister Davit Songhulashvili and Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani.
They arrived at Astana airport on June 29, where they were welcomed by Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev, according to the Georgian government administration.
Meetings
Kobakhidze first met with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the government administration reported, saying that in a one-on-one meeting the two discussed the “positive dynamics of cooperation across various sectors” and noted that the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement would “further strengthen” bilateral relations. They reportedly paid particular attention to trade and economic relations, as well as opportunities in the transport and logistics sectors, underscoring the “importance of connectivity” and the “growing strategic significance of the Middle Corridor.”
Following the one-on-one meeting, expanded talks were held with the participation of members of both governments, focusing on high-level political relations and deepening cooperation in trade, the economy, transport and logistics, as well as tourism, the government administration said.
According to the press release, Kobakhidze lauded the establishment of a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations, praised Tokayev’s leadership, invited him to Georgia, and thanked him for supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also underscoring the importance of the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.
On his part, Tokayev described Georgia as a “trusted” and “utterly reliable” partner for Kazakhstan, praising the elevation of relations to a strategic partnership as a “historic decision that serves the fundamental interests of our peoples and creates a strong foundation for further expanding cooperation between our two countries.” He also praised what he described as Georgia’s “impressive results” in “democratic institutions,” “economic growth” and its “role on the international stage.”
More to follow…
Also Read:
This post is also available in:
