Prospects for Deepening Kazakh-Norwegian Cooperation Discussed in Oslo

OSLO, June 19, 2019 — During the visit to Oslo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko held bilateral meetings.

At a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide it was noted that Kazakhstan and Norway intended to strengthen cooperation in the political sphere, in the field of mediation, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The Norwegian Minister noted the great contribution of Kazakhstan to global nuclear security. The sides noted the existing experience of cooperation in the field of nuclear security, which was proved by the creation of the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk with the financial support of Norway and the participation of both countries in the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iranian nuclear programme.

At the meeting it was noted that in terms of strengthening trade and economic cooperation there were good prospects in transport and logistics, agriculture and medicine.

It was agreed to hold regular inter-MFA consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers in Nur-Sultan this November.

Speaking about the situation in Central Asia, the sides noted the positive dynamics of interaction between the states of the region, stressing the importance of further assistance by the international community in stabilizing Afghanistan. An example of such assistance is a trilateral education program for Afghanistan with the participation of the EU, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

At the meeting with Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt, the special role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral cooperation was noted. The sides also stressed the importance of reinforcing the dialogue in Eurasia and the great importance in this regard of the upcoming Fourth Meeting of Speakers of the Eurasian Parliaments in Nur-Sultan on September 23-24 this year. The Norwegian Member of Parliament was also informed about the Three Dialogues initiative of First President of Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, which he put forward at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this April as well as the efforts taken by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry to build these dialogues.