COMMUNIQUE on the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Belgium
25 August 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Belgium.
Our countries have created a firm foundation for developing and strengthening collaboration in all fields over a quarter-century of friendship and cooperation: contacts are developing, links between foreign ministries and other government bodies are strengthening, and the legal framework is expanding.
During this period, bilateral relations have reached a qualitatively new level on the basis of regular meetings held at the highest level. Since independence, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has paid 8 visits to Belgium. The October 2010 official visit to Kazakhstan of the King of Belgium Philippe, then the Crown Prince and head of a large business delegation to Astana, provided additional impetus to the development and diversification of trade and economic cooperation.
An important avenue for cooperation is collaboration within the framework of international organizations.
Astana and Brussels have similar positions on fundamental issues such as the fight against terrorism, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. This is confirmed by the Monument to the victims of nuclear tests in the Belgian city of Ypres, made by Kazakhstan sculptors on the basis of the Semipalatinsk Memorial "Stronger than Death". The sides are also engaged in developing cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Trade and economic relations between our countries have a positive dynamic. Cooperation between the business circles of Kazakhstan and Belgium is actively developing. Since 2010, representatives of more than 200 Belgian companies have visited Kazakhstan with business missions. More than 60 companies with the participation of Belgian capital operate in Kazakhstan. Over the past ten years, the total volume of Belgian direct investments into Kazakhstan has exceeded $5.4 billion.
Kazakhstan is determined to continue developing and strengthening comprehensive cooperation with Belgium.