In a significant diplomatic event, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan hosted his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, on an official visit to the Central Asian nation. The meeting, which took place at the Akorda presidential residence, began with a formal welcoming ceremony for President Macron. The leaders exchanged greetings and introduced the members of their respective delegations, TuraNews.kz reports citing the press service of Akorda.
The Honor Guard company delivered a welcoming report to commemorate the occasion, and the national anthems of both Kazakhstan and France filled the air, setting the stage for high-stakes negotiations between the two leaders. These crucial talks were conducted in a closed-door format in the Eastern Hall of the presidential residence.
During the welcoming proceedings, President Tokayev expressed his warm appreciation for President Macron’s visit, emphasizing the historic and vital nature of the occasion. He underlined the dynamic growth of cooperation between Kazakhstan and France and expressed his confidence in the productivity of the forthcoming negotiations.
“Dear Mr. President! We welcome your visit; this is a very significant event. Thank you for accepting my invitation and coming to Kazakhstan on an official visit. Cooperation between Kazakhstan and France is developing dynamically, but it is necessary to give it additional impetus. Therefore, we can call your visit historic and very important. I am confident that today’s negotiations will be productive,” President Tokayev emphasized.
President Tokayev also underscored the importance of France as a key and dependable partner for Kazakhstan within the European Union, highlighting the nation’s significant investments in the Kazakh economy.
In response, President Macron expressed his gratitude for the warm invitation and the opportunity to meet with President Tokayev, noting the auspicious timing of their gathering during a crucial year for their bilateral partnership. President Macron emphasized their commitment to international principles such as the UN Charter, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty, while also acknowledging the importance of their economic partnership.
“Thank you very much, Mr. President, for your invitation. I am very glad that I was able to come to Astana today and meet with you. Thank you for organizing this visit, which comes during an important year for our bilateral partnership. We will be able to advance on important international topics, emphasize our commitment to the UN Charter, principles such as territorial integrity, national sovereignty. We will also be able to discuss key bilateral issues. We are important economic partners. In addition, I would like to note that we will sign significant contracts that will advance the strategic and economic relations between our countries. Let me emphasize once again that I am very pleased to meet with you today and discuss our joint agenda,” said President Macron.
The leaders of Kazakhstan and France delved into discussions concerning the state and future prospects of the Kazakh-French strategic partnership. Their talks placed particular emphasis on bolstering political dialogue and deepening cooperation across various sectors, including trade, economics, investments, energy, transport, logistics, and cultural-humanitarian exchanges.
Furthermore, President Tokayev and President Macron exchanged views on contemporary issues within the international and regional arenas, reflecting their shared commitment to addressing global challenges.
After the initial negotiations, the heads of state expanded their discussions, with the participation of their respective delegations, to explore various aspects of bilateral cooperation and strengthen the enduring ties between Kazakhstan and France.
