ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13, focusing on expanding Kazakhstan’s cooperation with India, the United States, the UAE and Ethiopia.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Photo credit: Akorda.
Kazakhstan-India relations
During a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tokayev congratulated him on successfully organizing the BRICS Summit and highlighted India’s growing role in the global economy and its achievements in science and technology, Akorda reported.
“Under your wise and strong leadership, India is confidently advancing towards progress and sustainable development,” Tokayev said.
He noted that around 600 Indian-invested companies operate in Kazakhstan and nearly 150,000 Indian citizens visited the country last year. The officials discussed cooperation in energy, digitalization, education and tourism, with particular attention to cooperation between Astana Hub and Hyderabad’s technology ecosystem.
Modi thanked Tokayev for participating in the BRICS Summit and stressed the importance he attaches to friendly and trust-based relations with Kazakhstan. The two leaders also discussed prospects for a free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Tokayev, noting Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the EAEU, reaffirmed the country’s readiness to facilitate the negotiations and invited Modi to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan.
Strengthening Kazakhstan-U.S. partnership
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev holds talks with U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor in New Delhi. Photo credit: Akorda.
Tokayev also met with U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, who conveyed a personal message from President Donald Trump congratulating Kazakhstan ahead of the 35th anniversary of its independence. Tokayev reaffirmed his invitation to Trump to visit Kazakhstan and stressed the importance of achieving tangible results in the Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
“We prefer not fine words, but tangible results and practical steps to advance our mutual cooperation,” Tokayev said, noting that his participation in the upcoming G20 Summit in December in Miami would provide an opportunity to discuss the bilateral agenda.
For his part, Gor noted that close and trust-based contacts between the leaders had brought Kazakhstan-U.S. relations to an unprecedentedly high level. The officials also discussed priority areas of cooperation, notably artificial intelligence and digitalization.
Expanding partnerships beyond BRICS
On the sidelines of the summit, Tokayev also met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheik Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. With the Crown Prince, he reviewed major investment projects in energy, transport and logistics, information technology and agriculture, while with the Ethiopian Prime Minister he discussed expanding trade and investment ties, including the possible establishment of a hub in Kazakhstan for Ethiopian tea, coffee and floral products. Tokayev invited both leaders to visit Kazakhstan.
Speaking at the BRICS Plus plenary session on Sept. 13, Tokayev called for deeper practical cooperation with BRICS countries in trade, logistics, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and water security, highlighting the format’s potential to open new markets, attract investment and strengthen technological and transport connectivity.
