ASTANA: President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has met with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso and discussed ways to promote bilateral ties.
The president of Congo arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit on Friday. Tokayev welcoming Sassou Nguesso, said that the President of the Congo’s first visit to Astana is taking place on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two states, reported the Akorda press service.
“We consider your country an important partner on the African continent. Despite the geographical remoteness, we are interested in the full development of bilateral ties. We have great potential for interaction,” Tokayev said, announcing the intention to appoint the Kazakh Ambassador to Congo.
Sassou Nguesso in his remarks said that Tokayev’s decision to appoint a diplomatic representative of Kazakhstan in Congo will boost bilateral cooperation.
“Indeed, this is a clear confirmation of your desire to increase effective interaction between Astana and Brazzaville. We are interested in deepening economic cooperation with your country,” he said.
The two sides discussed the prospects for the development of the Kazakh-Congolese partnership. During the meeting special attention was paid to promoting cooperation in the trade and economic, energy, mining, transport and logistics, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as finance and digitalization. At the end of the discussion, Sassou Nguesso invited Tokayev to visit Congo.
As part of the official visit, the sides signed ten documents, including an agreement between the governments on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, an agreement on cooperation in the oil and gas industry between KazMunayGas national company and the National Petroleum Company of Congo and a memorandum of understanding between the Astana International Financial Centre and the Congolese Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Additionally, agreements on strengthening cooperation have also been signed between the Kazakh Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad of Congo; the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry and the Congolese Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy; and the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction and the Congolese Ministry of Mining and Geology and others.
