The current situation in Kazakhstan will not in any way affect the strong bilateral relations with Qatar, Kazakhstan ambassador Arman Issagaliyev has said.
“We are confident that 2022 will be a breakthrough year for the bilateral relations of our countries. We expect an exchange of high-level visits that will mark a new era of Kazakh-Qatari co-operation,” the envoy told Gulf Times.
During these visits, Issagaliyev said about 20 important intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements are expected to be signed in the field of investment protection and promotion, finance, Islamic economy, agriculture, mining and metallurgy, military and military-technical co-operation, healthcare, tourism, education, science, and sports.
Apart from creating a joint investment fund and implementing major projects, he said they also plan to hold a meeting of the Kazakh-Qatari intergovernmental commission on co-operation, open the first Qatari bank in Kazakhstan, and expand air links between the two countries.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the envoy noted that “2021 was marked by a significant intensification of bilateral co-operation, which reached a qualitatively new level.
“This year, a large number of important high-level visits took place, among which I would like to highlight two visits of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to Nur Sultan and the visit of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov to Doha.
“Successful negotiations between our national companies took place, and representatives of private business made working trips to both countries. The activity of the Kazakh-Qatari Business Council has been resumed, the volume of trade turnover is growing”.
One of the highlights of Qatar – Kazakhstan ties this year, Issagaliyev said, is the opening of a direct flight of Qatar Airways to Kazakhstan – an important step that will “contribute to the intensification of our co-operation in all spheres”.
The envoy added that: “His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have been in constant contact by phone for a year, coordinating joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all spheres.
“The leaders of our countries confirmed the existence of a serious potential for filling the Kazakh-Qatari cooperation with new content. His Highness was one of the first foreign leaders to react to the situation in our country and expressed confidence in the ability of the Kazakh authorities to overcome the current crisis.
“During a telephone conversation between His Highness and our President, they confirmed their intention to further develop cooperation between our countries. We are very grateful to His Highness for his words of support during this difficult time for us”.
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