Kazakhstan and India intend to enhance strategic partnership

Nur-Sultan, November 17, 2020 - The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of India held online political consultations.  

Shakhrat Nuryshev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, led the Kazakh delegation and Vikas Swarup, Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, led the Indian delegation.

Before the meeting, the foreign ministries of the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Indian grant assistance to Kazakhstan for implementation of quick-impact projects in education, healthcare, agriculture, etc.

During the talks, the parties discussed the state and prospects of key areas of the bilateral agenda, interaction within the UN, CICA, SCO and other international structures, as well as compared notes on pressing global and regional issues, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parties commended the progress in bilateral trade that has reached $2.2 billion at the end of nine months of 2020 showing 100% growth in comparison with the same period in 2019.

They also held substantive discussions on cooperation in energy, space, education, culture, and other spheres.

Kazakhstan welcomed India's decision to extend the joint deployment of peacekeeping units as part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in 2021.

Following the talks, the parties agreed to maintain a high level of contacts between the foreign ministries of the two countries to further enhance the strategic partnership between Nur-Sultan and New Delhi.