Paris once again became a key diplomatic venue for Kazakhstan and France as the two countries held the 11th round of Kazakh-French political consultations. The talks brought together Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Arman Issetov and Brice Roquefeuil, Director of the Department for Continental Europe at France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, DKNews.kz reports.
The discussions confirmed that relations between Astana and Paris are not only stable, but continue to gain substance across politics, economics, climate policy and humanitarian cooperation.
Political dialogue built on trust
During the meeting, Arman Issetov emphasized that the political dialogue between Kazakhstan and France remains consistent and trust-based. According to him, this stability is reinforced by regular contacts at the highest level, allowing both countries to coordinate positions even amid global uncertainty.
Such continuity, diplomats note, creates a solid foundation for advancing long-term strategic goals rather than limiting cooperation to short-term initiatives.
France among Kazakhstan’s top European investors
Economic cooperation took center stage during the talks. Issetov underlined France’s role as one of Kazakhstan’s leading European trade and investment partners. The total volume of French investments in Kazakhstan has reached around 21 billion US dollars.
French companies are actively involved in sectors that are critical for Kazakhstan’s development - energy, agriculture, transport infrastructure, industry, sustainable development and healthcare. These investments are viewed not only as financial inflows, but also as a source of modern technologies, expertise and long-term industrial partnerships.
Focus on education, science and culture
Beyond economics, both sides reaffirmed their shared interest in expanding cooperation in education, science and culture. These areas are increasingly seen as key instruments for strengthening people-to-people ties and ensuring the durability of bilateral relations over the coming decades.
Shared views on global and regional issues
The consultations also demonstrated the closeness of Kazakhstan’s and France’s positions on multilateral cooperation, international peace and security. Both sides reiterated their commitment to the principles of international law and the UN Charter, highlighting the importance of coordinated approaches in an increasingly fragmented global environment.
Climate agenda and the UN Environmental Summit
Environmental and climate issues featured prominently in the dialogue. The Kazakh side expressed hope for an active French role at the UN Regional Environmental Summit, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan on April 22–24, 2026.
French participation is expected to build on the momentum of the One Water Summit, held in Riyadh in December 2024 under the joint chairmanship of the Presidents of Kazakhstan and France. Climate diplomacy is gradually becoming one of the pillars of the bilateral agenda.
Additional high-level meetings in Paris
As part of his visit, Arman Issetov also met with Frédéric Mondoloni, Director-General for Political and Security Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Their discussion covered current bilateral matters as well as pressing regional and international developments.
Why it matters
The 11th round of consultations showed that Kazakhstan-France relations are evolving beyond formal diplomacy into a mature strategic partnership. Investments, climate cooperation, shared security views and humanitarian ties all point to a relationship that is becoming more resilient and future-oriented.
For Kazakhstan, France remains a key gateway to Europe. For France, Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its position as a stable and reliable partner in Central Asia.
