Bakhyt Sultanov holds talks in Belgium

Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov held talks with Secretary General of the World Customs Organization Kunio Mikuria.

The parties discussed the current state of prospects for deepening cooperation between Kazakhstan and the WCO, as well as the preparations for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled for the end of November.

Bakhyt Sultanov noted that one of the topics on the agenda of the MK-12 is the WTO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them is the effective application of trade policy measures during the public health crisis.

The WCO Secretary General informed the Kazakh Minister about the Organization's development of international standards to ensure the continuity of the trade supply chain, and also approved an action plan to combat COVID-19 in terms of facilitating the cross-border movement of critical medicines and vaccines.

The parties noted the importance of adopting and developing the necessary joint measures to curb the illegal movement of counterfeit and counterfeit vaccines. Having stated that cooperation between Kazakhstan and the WCO in this direction is promising.

The sides also discussed issues of transit potential in the East-West direction. So, in particular, it was about the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, as part of China's global Belt and Road project.

Minister Sultanov confirmed Kazakhstan's readiness to continue developing mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners, including the WCO. The parties also discussed the possibilities of increasing cross-border trade in the Central Asian region.