Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.B.Tileuberdi paid an official visit to the Vatican.

May 30-31, 2022 – Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi paid an official visit to the Vatican.

During the personal audience with Pope Francis, the pontiff noted that Kazakhstan is a reliable partner of the Vatican in Central Asia. The head of the Catholic Church praised the reforms of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev aimed at building a «New Kazakhstan».

During the meeting, the decision of the Pope to make an apostolic visit to Kazakhstan in September this year and take part in the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was particularly noted. The Minister said that Catholics are looking forward to Pope Francis not only in Kazakhstan, but also throughout Central Asia.

In addition, M.Tileuberdi discussed the current global situation, as well as issues of bilateral cooperation with the Secretary of State (Prime Minister) Of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The interlocutor was familiarized in detail with the socio-political reforms of the Head of State and the upcoming amendments to the Constitution of the country. The Head of the Kazakh foreign ministry also noted the need to further expand the existing contractual legal framework between the countries.

During the visit, the Minister also met with the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Gixot. The interlocutors discussed the main directions of bilateral cooperation in the field of interreligious dialogue, as well as the participation of the Vatican delegation in the upcoming Congress. For a significant contribution to the development of interfaith dialogue and the promotion of the ideas of the Congress, on behalf of the Head of State, M.Tileuberdi presented Cardinal Ayuso Giksot the Order of «Dostyk» of the II degree.

On the second day of the visit, M.Tileuberdi held talks with the Secretary for Relations with States (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Of the Holy See Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda, as well as regional and global security issues. Following the meeting, a joint communique was adopted on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and a number of documents in the field of healthcare, science and culture were signed between Corporate Foundation of «University Medical Center» and Pediatric Hospital of «Bambino Gesu», as well as between the R.B.Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies at the Ministry of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Vatican Apostolic Archive and the Vatican Apostolic Library.

At the end of the visit was an official reception held and a photo exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the Vatican was organized. The exhibition showed historical events of bilateral cooperation, as well as highlights and unique shots of the previous six Congresses.