Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Astana on an official visit. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed him at the Akorda Palace. An honor guard lined up in the ceremonial hall, and the Presidential Orchestra performed the national anthems of both countries. The two sides then held meetings in narrow and expanded formats with the participation of both delegations. President Tokayev noted that Iran is one of Kazakhstan’s key trade and economic partners. Over the past 10 months, bilateral trade has increased by 40%.
«We are
determined to further increase this figure and have all the necessary
conditions to do so. Investment is the foundation of long-term cooperation.
Today, around 700 Iranian companies are operating successfully in Kazakhstan,
primarily in sectors such as industry, infrastructure, and agriculture. In
turn, the Kazakh business community is actively investing in Iran’s economy,
implementing projects in mining, transport and logistics, and food production,» Tokayev said.
Cooperation between the two countries in the transport and
logistics sector deserves special attention. To strengthen ties in this area,
the Head of State emphasized the importance of effectively leveraging the
strategically advantageous location of both countries. Around 85% of overland
freight traffic between Europe and China passes through Kazakhstan. The two
sides are also interested in further enhancing the capacity of the North-South
transport corridor and the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran
railway route. Since the beginning of the year, freight volumes along these
routes have increased by 53%.
«This is an important project that serves
the interests of both sides. Kazakhstan has launched initiatives to modernize
its railways, develop transport corridors, and enhance shipping on the Caspian
Sea. We have invited Iranian investors to participate in these projects and are
ready to provide tailored proposals and incentives for interested
private-sector partners. We view Iran as a “gateway” to Southeast Asia and
Africa,» Tokayev added.
Agriculture remains an important area of cooperation. As the Head of State noted, last year Kazakhstan exported over 500,000 tonnes of barley to Iran, and this volume could be increased several times. Overall, Kazakhstan is prepared to export goods worth $200 million to Iran. The presidents also discussed prospects for joint projects in energy, mining, digitalization, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of strengthening interregional, cultural, and humanitarian ties.
«Cooperation with your country is of great importance to us. Effective intergovernmental and interagency collaboration has been established. Our positions on many international and regional issues are aligned. We work closely within the frameworks of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Our shared goal is to further strengthen cooperation in these areas,» Pezeshkian said.
Following the negotiations, the two sides
issued a Joint Statement and exchanged nine documents, including a memorandum
of cooperation between the Kazakh President’s TV and Radio Complex and the
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
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