Mutual desire to further strengthen beneficial cooperation across the entire spectrum of relations between Kazakhstan and Slovakia

BRATISLAVA, June 10, 2020 – Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Slovak Republic Roman Vassilenko and the recently appointed State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ingrid Brockova confirmed a mutual desire to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations at a meeting today.

During the conversation, the Ambassador emphasized the importance for Kazakhstan of cooperation with Slovakia, one of the country’s key and promising political and economic partners in Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union. He noted the decision by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to open the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Bratislava in 2019 has been a symbol of warm and trusting relations between two countries and recognition of high potential for their further development and strengthening, as well as Slovakia’s international authority. Ambassador Vassilenko particularly noted Slovakia’s successful chairmanship in the OSCE last year, and Bratislava’s contribution to the strengthening of that organization against the background of a general decline in mutual trust amongst its participating states.

In turn, State Secretary Brockova warmly welcomed the opening and activities of a full Embassy of Kazakhstan in Bratislava. She expressed confidence these steps will contribute to bringing bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level in all areas.       

The Ambassador congratulated Slovakia on its most successful experience in containing the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and outlined efforts in fighting the virus in Kazakhstan. The interlocutors discussed the measures taken in the two countries to re-launch the economies after forced restrictions, noting the importance of sharing experience in this area.

Ambassador Vassilenko informed his host about the main priorities of the domestic and foreign policies of the President Tokayev and the reforms carried out in the country, emphasizing the course towards diversification and building a new “post-pandemic” model of the economy. (An interesting fact was noted: the inauguration of the newly elected heads of the two states – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Zuzana Čaputova – took place in June 2019 within a space of only three days.)

The interlocutors noted the high dynamics of bilateral contacts in recent years (visits to Kazakhstan by Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, Chairman of the National Council Andrej Danko, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák), emphasizing the importance of strengthening such dynamics and continuing the practice of regular visits at the highest and high level.

  Noting the positive results of the 8th meeting of the Kazakh-Slovak Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation on January 21-22, 2020 in Nur-Sultan, the interlocutors reviewed the progress in implementing the protocol of the meeting with an emphasis on achieving concrete results.

In this regard, the interlocutors paid special attention to the development of trade and economic cooperation, expanding bilateral trade and searching for new niches. Among the most promising areas, the interlocutors noted mechanical engineering, including automotive, defence industry, engineering, energy, IT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. Kazakhstan is also interested in Slovakia’s experience and technologies in the field of hydrology, forest management and landscaping, alternative and renewable energy sources and the green economy. It is expected that, in the near future, as restrictions caused by the pandemic are lifted, contacts of potential business partners from Kazakhstan and Slovakia in the areas of IT, engineering and construction, as well as green energy will resume. 

     For reference: In the first four months of 2020, trade between the two counties amounted to $27.2 million, which is 2.5 times more than in the same period last year. Currently, Kazakhstan has about 40 legal entities, branches and representative offices with the Slovak participation, as well as 24 joint ventures.

     Slovakia, as a member of the European Union, is also interested in strengthening relations with Kazakhstan in the framework of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union (that entered into full force on March 1, 2020) and the adoption of the new EU Strategy for Central Asia last year. State Secretary Brockova noted during the meeting that her compatriot and one of the predecessors as State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Peter Burian, continues working with as much commitment to develop inter-regional cooperation as the EU Special Representative for Central Asia.

Given State Secretary Brockova’s previous work experience at the World Bank and as the Slovak Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the interlocutors also considered the interaction between states in these organizations. In addition, the diplomats focused on the prospects of cooperation in the field of official development assistance (ODA), taking into account the functioning of the SlovakAid agency, the development of the similar mechanism in Kazakhstan and the common focus on supporting states such as Afghanistan.

During the meeting, that took place in a warm atmosphere, the interlocutors also emphasized the importance of further broadening of the treaty and legal base of relations, strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and noted the willingness to conduct a regular dialogue on pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda.