Kazakhstani and Belgian Parliamentarians Strengthen Cooperation

Brussels, October 3, 2024 – Members of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Majilis of Kazakhstan's Parliament, Samat Nurtaza and Olzhas Kuspekov, met with their Belgian counterparts.

Welcoming the Kazakhstani parliamentarians, Els Van Hoof, Chair of the Committee on International Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Belgian Parliament, highlighted the dynamic level of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. Last year, parliamentary delegations from both nations made reciprocal visits to Kazakhstan and Belgium. Sharing her warm memories of productive trips to Astana and Almaty, Els Van Hoof emphasized that Kazakhstan is an important political and economic partner for Belgium and the European Union in the region. She stated that Belgium is interested in a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with Kazakhstan.

In response, Samat Nurtaza expressed gratitude for the meeting and announced the formation of a new inter-parliamentary cooperation group with Belgium in the Majilis. He reiterated that Belgium has been and remains a significant political and economic partner for Kazakhstan within the EU. He also noted the growth of bilateral trade, which exceeded USD 500 million in 2023, surpassing the figures of 2022 by 1.7%.

During the conversation, the parliamentarians discussed current domestic political processes. Els Van Hoof provided details about the “super elections” held in June this year in Belgium, where voters participated in federal, regional, and European elections. In turn, Samat Nurtaza informed about Kazakhstan's preparations for a national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The participants also focused on cooperation in the transportation sector within the framework of the “Central Asia-European Union” interregional cooperation format and exchanged views on pressing international issues, including the situation in the Middle East.

Both sides agreed to continue the dialogue once the new Belgium-Kazakhstan inter-parliamentary cooperation group is established in the Belgian Parliament.