In the capital of the European Union, a Kazakh diplomatic reception was held to honor the Republic Day, the country’s national holiday. The event was attended by representatives of official, business and academic circles of the Kingdom of Belgium, as well as high-ranking officials of the executive structures of the European Union, members of the European Parliament, the diplomatic corps accredited in Brussels, Kazakh diaspora and the mass media, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
In his welcoming speech, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Margulan Baimukhan, informed the guests of the key points of the country’s new political course for building a Just and Fair Kazakhstan. He emphasized that the wide-ranging reforms underway in our country are aimed at further democratization of our political system and enhancing the welfare of Kazakh society.
Baimukhan noted the high dynamics of Kazakhstan’s relations with Belgium and the EU, a great impetus to which was given by an official visit of President Tokayev in Brussels in November 2021. In the year of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Belgium inflow of Belgian investments in the Kazakh economy has grown considerably. In the first six months of 2022, they amounted to about $1.2 billion. Today a number of Belgian companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan and there are prerequisites for further expansion of trade turnover.
Speaking about Kazakhstan’s relations with the European Union, the Ambassador talked of the dynamic cooperation, which is characterized by a regular high level political dialogue. He highlighted the visit of the President of the European Council Charles Michel to Astana on October 26-27 and his participation in Astana in the first historic meeting between the leaders of Central Asia and the EU Council President has brought relations between the parties to a new level.
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the EU, the horizon for EU – Kazakhstan cooperation has visibly widened. Last September, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, President Tokayev met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and later on 22 October their online talks took place, where the parties outlined a series of events for the coming year, as they plan to commemorate an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations.
It is noteworthy that in the eight months since the beginning of this year, the volume of trade between Kazakhstan and the EU countries reached almost $30 billion. This represents an increase of over 40% compared to the same period last year.
The evening’s entertainment featured a brilliant program by the Kazakh folk-rock music band, HasSak. Impressive performances on national instruments, melodious compositions, and dynamic music of the Great Steppe left no guest of the evening indifferent.
Visitors could also attend a separate corner of Kazakh culture, where there were items of national clothes and everyday life, music, and books, as well as informative photos about Kazakhstan. Guests also enjoyed a Kazakh cuisine corner, where they could taste a few national meals.
