Kazakhstan and Lithuania Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Kazakhstan and Lithuania Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Nur-Sultan, March 1, 2022 – The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with a delegation of Lithuanian parliamentarians, headed by Deputy Chairman of the Seimas Jonas Jarutis, during their working visit to Nur-Sultan.

This year the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Lithuania celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. During the three decades of their cooperation, the two countries have established close relations in all spheres of bilateral interaction, including political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian.

Vassilenko highlighted the effective work of the Kazakhstan-Lithuania Interparliamentary Friendship Group, which promotes the development of contacts between MPs through technical meetings, round tables, briefings and cultural events.

Lithuania was one of the first countries to ratify the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU in 2016. The implementation of the PCA contributes to broadening the horizons of political interaction and deepening economic relations between Kazakhstan and EU member states, both bilaterally and at the regional and global levels.

The high level of political relations between Kazakhstan and Lithuania has created favorable conditions for the realization of potential in the trade and economic spheres as well. Lithuania is among the top ten trade partners of Kazakhstan in the European Union and among the top thirty partners in the world. In 2021, the volume of two-way trade amounted to $454 million, including $356.3 million in exports from Kazakhstan and $97.5 million in imports from Kazakhstan.

Today there are about 170 Lithuanian companies on the Kazakh market. At the same time, Kazakhstan is one of the twenty largest trading partners of Lithuania.

The Kazakhstan-Lithuanian Intergovernmental Commission has become an important mechanism for the development of economic cooperation, which includes working groups on automobile transport and tourism.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed on the increasing role of parliamentary diplomacy at the current stage and agreed to intensify Kazakhstan-Lithuanian cooperation.