Bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Belarus
Overview
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus were established on 16 September 1992.
The Embassy of Kazakhstan to Belarus was opened in 9th January, 1993.
The Embassy of Belarus to Kazakhstan was opened in 13th July, 1997.
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic Belarus is Askar Beisenbayev since August 2019.
Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kazakhstan is Pavel Utyupin since July 2020.
Political dialogue
Kazakhstan and Belarus established the strategic partnership characterized by multifaceted cooperation across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations in the spirit of mutual understanding and trust.
The position of the two countries is close or similar on the most key issues of the regional and global agenda. Numbers of official contacts improve cooperation in the bilateral as well multilateral framework.
The official visit of President of the Republic of Belarus A.Lukashenko to the Republic of Kazakhstan took place on October 24-25, 2019. The six bilateral documents were signed by delegations as a result of the visit.
Official talks between the President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev and the President of Belarus A.Lukashenko were held in the frame of the Summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia on 13 October, 2022. During the high level meeting the heads of two states discussed key points of bilateral cooperation.
The President of Belarus A.Lukashenko extended his congratulations the President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev on a victory in the presidential elections assuring that «Belarus will continue to be a close friend and reliable partner».
High-level contacts
Kazakhstan maintains a regular dialogue with Belarus at the governmental level on a wide range of bilateral cooperation. Substantial bilateral meetings were held last two years.
The Prime-Minister of the Republic of Belarus R.Golovchenko visited Kazakhstan to held a talks with Prime-Minister of Republic of Kazakhstan A.Mamin on June 26-27, 2021 г.
The main topic of official talks was further development on the trade and economic cooperation between two countries as well as implementation of the reached an accommodation on the highest level.
The visit resulted in signing a number of contracts and agreements.
Bilateral meeting of the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Smailov and the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Belarus R.Golovchenko was held on February, 2022 in Almaty during the Eurasian Governmental Counsil.
The Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Smailov receive the First Deputy Prime-Minister of the Republic of Belarus N.Snopkov on June 2022 in Astana in following up of bilateral governmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.
Bilateral talks of the Deputy Prime-Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan M. Tileuberdi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makey were held 13th May, 2022 in Dushambe with in margins of the Сouncil of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of СIS states. During the meeting high-ranking officials of two countries discussed topical issues of the bilateral relations.
Deputy Prime-Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan M. Tileuberdi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makey held a meeting with in margins of 77th UN General Assembly in 21st September, 2022.
Minister Culture of Kazakhstan D.Abayev and Minister Culture of Belarus A.Markevich had the talks within 26-30th November 2022 in Minsk in the frame of the Cultural Days of Kazakhstan which were held in Belarus.
Parliamentary cooperation
There are a great opportunities in the context of parliamentary relations of two countries. Bilateral сonsultations were provided by the deputies on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Assembly of CIS countries, СSTO and other parliamentarian associations.
The official visit of the Chairperson of the House Representatives of Parliament of Belarus V.Andreychenko to Astana took place 23-24th September, 2019 in the frame of the Council of speakers of parliaments Eurasian countries.
Kazakhstani delegation on parliamentary cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus visited Minsk in order to take part in an international conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of CIS countries which was hold in 15th June, 2022. During the official event Deputy Chairperson P.Kazantsev had conducted talks with the head of Belarusian part of the parliamentary group, Chairperson of committee on legislation of the House of Representative of Parliament of Belarus S.Lyubetskaya
Kazakhstani delegation on parliamentary cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus visited Minsk 15-16th December 2022 according to previously arranged settlements with Belarusian part of mentioned parliamentarian group. During the visit Kazakhstani delegation had a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representative of Parliament of Belarus as well as head of Belarusian part of the parliamentary group, of the House of Representative of Parliament of Belarus S.Lyubetskaya.
Bilateral mechanisms of cooperation
Efficient implementation of Kazakhstani and Belarusian relations provides following bilateral mechanisms of cooperation: Governmental Commission between Kazakhstan and Belarus on trade and economic cooperation, Business Council between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Republic of Belarus, Group of parliamentary cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus, Sub-Committee on military - technical cooperation, the Group of cooperation between Ministry of the agriculture of Kazakhstan and Ministry of the agriculture of Belarus, Executive commission on coordination activity of the scientific and educational consortium of the higher education institutions and research agencies of Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Cooperation in the sphere of security and combating terrorism
Cooperation between intelligence agencies of Kazakhstan and Belarus implementing the routine basis. Kazakhstani counterterrorist unit of NSC «Arystan» and Belarusian counterterrorist unit of SSC «Alfa» fulfill joint activity and trainings as well carry out mutual exchange of information on cybercrime and illegal migration.
Investment, trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus
Kazakhstan is the main trading partner of Belarus among CIS countries. Trade and economic cooperation between two countries is one of the priority areas for the development of bilateral relations.
The trade turnover of the two countries increased by 14.1%, amounting to $ 1.017 billion in 2022. Kazakhstan's exports of $ 156.8 million (an increase of 42.2%) and imports from Belarus of $860.7 million (an increase of 10.2%).
Belarusian government approved the list of 105 commodity items that Kazakhstan can export to Belarus.
Investment cooperation.
Within three quarters of 2022, the volume of Belarusian investments in Kazakhstan increased by 50% and amounted to 61.1 million dollars in compared to the same period in 2021 (39 million dollars). Generally, the inflow of Belarusian investments in the period from 2005-2022 amounted to 2.33 billion dollars.
Among the attractive industries for investment cooperation are mechanical engineering, retail trade, the financial sector and others.
Cooperation in industrial cooperation.
There are 7 large joint ventures operating in Kazakhstan. Among them are production of Gomselmash combines, Belarus tractors in Abay and Kostanay regions); the production of MAZ vehicles in Almaty and Abay region, the production of «Mogilevlift» elevators. At nowadays sum total 366 enterprises with Belarusian participation operating in Kazakhstan. Belarus interested in Kazakhstani market.
Bilateral Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and Business Council between Kazakhstan and Belarus are basic platforms where promote and facilitate issues of bilateral cooperation.
On June 8, 2022, the Third meeting of the Business Council between the Foreign Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held in Astana.
Issues of further development of trade relations were discussed, 17 contracts worth 10 million dollars were signed in the field of mechanical engineering, woodworking, food and light industry.
The 17th meeting of the Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus was held on June 9, 2022 in Astana. Following the meeting, the proper Protocol was signed.
The parties exchanged information on the economic situation in Kazakhstan and Belarus, discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakhstani and Belarusian trade and economic cooperation, also came to accord and signed the protocol on the further development of industrial cooperation as well trade and economic cooperation.
On cooperation in the field of transport
The countries have a mutual interest. Belarus has access to the European market and Kazakhstan to the Asian market, especially China.
The existing railway and road links between Kazakhstan and Belarus provide a direct connection between the states, based on the annually increasing trade turnover between Europe and Asia.
Сooperation in the sphere of education
The legal framework on cooperation in the area of education consists of Governmental Agreement on cooperation in the field of Culture, Science and Education which was signed on January 17, 1996, as well the Agreement on cooperation in the field of Higher and Postgraduate Education which was signed on June 10, 2009, as well as agreements between ministries and universities of the two countries.
In recent years, a number of agreements between universities have been implemented. As part of the practice of faculty and student exchanges under various programs, Kazakhstan citizens are trained in higher educational institutions of Belarus, likewise citizens of Belarus are trained in universities of Kazakhstan.
Today, about 200 Kazakh students study in 28 universities of Belarus.
The bilateral Commission on Scientific and Technical Cooperation supports effective implementation of cultural and humanitarian cooperation projects.
In May 2011, the Agreement on arrangement for the Scientific and Educational Consortium between Higher Educational Institutions and Research Institutes of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus was signed by both countries.
Currently, the Scientific and Educational Consortium consists of 48 (22 Kazakh and 26 Belarusian) higher educational institutions.
On November 16, 2021, the 8th Meeting of the Executive committee on the coordination of the scientific and educational Consortium activities of Higher Educational Institutions and Research Institutes of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus was held online. During the meeting, a joint action plan for 2021-2022 was approved and individual bilateral memorandums of cooperation were signed.
Legal and contractual framework
The legal and contractual data of Kazakhstani and Belarusian cooperation includes around 80 treaties and agreements in the various fields. Among of the fundamental bilateral documents is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.