ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Belgrade, where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and held intergovernmental negotiations on economic cooperation and security on November 29, a reported the press service of the ministry. Following his visit, Kazakhstan and Serbia signed intergovernmental agreements on military-technical cooperation and interservice memorandums on cooperation in the fields of culture and sports.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Nurtleu and Serbian President Vucic. Photo credit: Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting with President Vucic, Nurteu said: “Astana and Belgrade have every reason to be proud of their trusting relations based on common interests.” He shared an invitation from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Astana next year.
Serbian President Vucic highlighted the high level of cooperation between the countries, the development of sustainable political dialogue and effective interaction both bilaterally and within international structures.
The parties discussed the global and regional agenda and presented perspectives in the fields of military-technical cooperation, agriculture, transport and logistics, tourism, education and culture.
Photo credit: Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister also met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic to discuss the development of trade, economic and investment ties. The parties noted the growth in bilateral trade turnover, which tripled and reached $73.8 million last year.
Nurtleu stressed the need to diversify trade relations and highlighted Kazakhstan’s interest in transferring technologies and best agricultural practices from Serbia.
The foreign ministers agreed to intensify cooperation in accordance with the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Serbia and the mechanisms of the Kazakh-Serbian Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Nurteu and Serbian Foreign Minister Dacic. Photo credit: Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Serbia is a friendly country and a reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the Balkan region. We attach great importance to strengthening comprehensive Kazakh-Serbian cooperation,” Nurtleu said.
Speaking about cultural and humanitarian ties, the foreign ministers expressed their readiness to provide support, which is facilitated by the agreement on a visa-free regime for citizens of the two countries.
On the same day, the Kazakh Foreign Minister discussed military-technical cooperation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Serbia, Milos Vucevic.
Photo credit: Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The documents signed between the countries laid the legal foundations for strengthening intergovernmental and commercial mechanisms for the practical implementation of joint projects in the military-technical, cultural and sports fields.