Positive results of Saudi-Kazakh round table forum hailed

Jeddah, The Gulf Observer: President Kassym Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan left Jeddah on Monday after a state visit to the Kingdom during which he also performed Umrah in Makkah.

A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of Tokayev’s official visit to Saudi Arabia, the text of which follows:

At the kind invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and to strengthen the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and joint cooperation, President Kassym Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, paid an official visit to the Kingdom during 23-24 July, 2022.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister, received the Kazakh President, at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah, and a session of official talks was held between the two sides, during which they reviewed the distinguished relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in all fields. Views were also exchanged on the current regional and international situation.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Tokayev commended the Kingdom’s efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques, the pilgrims, and visitors, praising the Kingdom’s success in organizing the Hajj and Umrah seasons despite the exceptional challenges and the repercussions of the Corona pandemic.

Economically, the two sides praised the development of the joint economic and investment relations and agreed to work jointly to boost the economic and trade partnership between them by achieving integration between the available opportunities, and exploring and developing investment areas in light of the Kingdom’s vision 2030 and Kazakhstan 2050. The two sides also highlighted the existing cooperation through the Saudi-Kazakh Joint Committee.

The two sides hailed the positive results of the Saudi-Kazakh Round Table Forum, which was held during the visit, during which several agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between the two sides’ private sectors, as well as the sealing commercial deals in energy, food, and medical sectors.

Both sides also welcomed the signing of various agreements and memoranda of cooperation between the governments in sports, media, medicine, and cooperation in the financial sector. They also agreed to expedite the approval of the investment protection and promotion agreement, given its positive impact on enhancing investment exchange between the two countries through qualitative projects in vital sectors, and to create a safe investment environment for investors from both sides.

Both sides praised the amount of the existing cooperation between the Ministry of Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan Invest, which represents the investment sector in Kazakhstan, to explore promising investment opportunities for investors from both countries, and they reiterated to continue their efforts to enable the partnership between the private sectors in the two countries and encourage and enhance mutual investments in several targeted sectors, including petrochemicals, renewable energy, industry, mining, agriculture, tourism, transport and logistics, cooperation in innovation and information technology, and digital transformation, financial services, space, and all other fields that contribute to achieving the development goals of the two countries, as well as expanding the scope of cooperation between the two countries to include other areas, including joint work to achieve integration in supply chains and food security by securing the abundance of the most important basic foodstuffs, and through quantitative and qualitative Saudi investments in Kazakhstan.

Both sides affirmed their desire to enhance trade and tourism exchange by providing direct flights and creating multiple shipping lines. The Saudi side praised the Kazakh decision to exclude Saudi citizens from the visit visa. They also stressed the importance of discussing ways to activate joint cooperation between the two countries and exchange experiences in the air transport sectors, in a way that achieves the common interests of the two countries.

Concerning tourism, both sides stressed the importance of cooperation in tourism, developing the tourism movement in the two countries, exploring the tourism potentials that each country has, in addition to promoting joint work in sustainable tourism that benefits the tourism sector and its development.

About education, both sides agreed to increase the level of joint cooperation in higher education, research, and innovation, encourage direct cooperation between universities and scientific and educational institutions in the two countries, and take advantage of modern digital technologies to support the continuity of education in times of crisis and exchange expertise and experiences in this context.

Both sides also agreed to enhance media cooperation between the two sides, discuss opportunities to develop cooperation in audio-visual, news agencies, and the press, exchange expertise, and coordinate media visits, to serve the development of joint media work.

In the climate change sphere, both sides stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and the need to develop and implement climate agreements by focusing on emissions without sources. The two sides also expressed their mutual support for the “Saudi Green” and “Middle East Green” initiatives launched by Saudi Arabia, and the “Green Bridge Green Partnership Program” in Kazakhstan, vowing to enhance cooperation in this field.

In energy, both countries praised the successful efforts of the OPEC Plus countries in enhancing the stability of the global oil market. They also stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC Plus agreement, to serve the interests of producers and consumers, and support the growth of the global economy. They also affirmed their common will to cooperate in petrochemicals, innovative uses of hydrocarbons, infrastructure development for circular carbon economy applications, carbon capture, and use, and clean hydrogen. The two sides agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation in the electricity sector and renewable energy fields, developing relevant projects, working to localize energy sector products and their associated supply chains, as well as enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy efficiency.

In the defense and security affairs, the two sides discussed the opportunities available in these two areas, in a way that serves and achieves their common interests.

Politically, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern in the regional and international arenas and reiterated their determination to enhance cooperation and joint coordination towards them and to continue their support for all efforts that would establish peace and stability around the world.

With regard to the Yemeni crisis, the two sides stressed the importance of full support for international and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis based on the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanisms, the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015), renewing their determination to continue coordination and intensify efforts aimed at maintaining international peace and security. They also discussed means to enhance joint coordination and continuous consultation within the framework of international and specialized organizations. In this context, the Saudi side valued the support of the Kazakh Government for Riyadh’s quest to host the World Expo 2030.

At the conclusion of the visit, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan invited the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the 7th World Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held on 14-15 September 2022, and to the 6th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which will be held from 12 to 13 October 2022 in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his thanks for these two invitations.

The Kazakh President also expressed his deep appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the warm reception and hospitality he and his accompanying delegation received. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the President constant good health and happiness and the brotherly Kazakh people further progress and advancement.