Effective inter-parliamentary cooperation for the common good

BRATISLAVA, October 20, 2021 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Bratislava Roman Vassilenko and Deputy Chairwoman of the Committee on International Relations, Chair of the Friendship Group with Kazakhstan Adriana Pčolinská discussed ways to further strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation between Kazakhstan and Slovakia at a meeting in the National Council of the Slovak Republic today.

The meeting took place against the background of the October 11 visit to Kazakhstan by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korčok, who headed a representative official and business delegation. The ambassador spoke in detail about the meetings of the minister during the visit, including with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and chairmen of the Senate and Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev and Nurlan Nigmatulin, as well as the agreements reached. The parties discussed prospects for further development of bilateral relations and strengthening of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The interlocutors noted the high level of Kazakh-Slovak relations, emphasizing their mutual interest in strengthening partnership in all spheres. They positively assessed the level of interaction between Kazakh and Slovak deputies at international platforms, including the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, noting the support provided by the Slovak deputies to the candidacy of the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Askar Shakirov during the elections for the post of Deputy Chairman of the OSCE PA last summer.

 Mrs. Pčolinská confirmed her readiness to intensify cooperation with colleagues in Kazakhstan, including through holding joint events both online and offline.

The interlocutors noted that, despite the pandemic, the level of bilateral trade and economic relations in 2020 and in the first half of 2021 showed positive dynamics. The potential in this area, however, is not fully used and it is necessary to focus on finding new niches for economic interaction. The parties expressed their readiness to provide comprehensive support in identifying and implementing specific projects that will expand economic and investment cooperation. In this regard, they discussed the prospects for cooperation in the fields of energy, defence industry, logistics and so on.