From the Emirate’s side, the meeting was chaired by the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The delegation included leaders and representatives of involved government agencies and businesses of both countries.

During official negotiations, the Ministers confirmed their interest in deepening and expanding bilateral relations, the foundations of which were laid by the First President of Kazakhstan – Leader of the Nation, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the Founding President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Since 2005, the gross inflow of direct investment from the UAE to Kazakhstan has exceeded $2 billion. Currently, a number of joint investment projects totaling around $10 billion are underway, including the construction of the Abu Dhabi Plaza complex in Nur-Sultan and the integrated gas-chemical complex for the production of propylene in the Atyrau region.

At a plenary meeting of the joint IPC, issues of mutually beneficial partnership in the political, trade, economic, investment and energy fields were considered. In particular, they discussed promising projects in the field of agriculture, transport and logistics, space, renewable energy and in the legal sphere, as well as ways to develop cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The establishment of a visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and the UAE was suggested to promote the development of tourist relations.

The parties agreed to conclude bilateral documents to facilitate domestic trade operations, the removal of technical barriers, the mutual recognition of conformity procedures and national marks, as well as cooperation in the certification of food products. It was noted that Kazakhstani agricultural products, including meat, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, nuts and honey, are already supplied to large retail chains and more than 40 hotels in the UAE.

The Kazakh side confirmed the start of the construction of its exhibition pavilion at the World Expo-2020, which will be held from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021, in Dubai.

Following the results of the 7th meeting, the Kazakh and UAE ministers of foreign affairs signed the IGC Protocol, defined as the “Road Map” of cooperation in the near future. A Memorandum on the further functioning in Nur-Sultan of the secondary school-lyceum No. 84, built with funds from the Khalifa bin Zayed Humanitarian Fund, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Accreditation Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Accreditation System of the United Arab Emirates were also signed.

МИД

As part of this visit, Minister Atamkulov also held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Affairs of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Kazakh diplomat conveyed a message from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in which the Head of Kazakhstan confirmed his commitment to building up comprehensive cooperation and expressed gratitude to the Emir for the invitation to visit their country on an official visit.

The parties discussed in detail the future prospects of bilateral cooperation and noted the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue at the highest level.

They welcomed the first ever flight to the International Space Station of the Emirate cosmonaut Hazz Al Mansouri, which will take place on September 25, 2019, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A representative delegation of the UAE will travel to Kazakhstan to participate in this event.

Sheikh Mansur bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded that “Relations between Kazakhstan and the Emirates are of a special nature. We should not be limited to the scope of our current cooperation, but move to a new qualitative level. We have all the opportunities to do so.”