During the talks with State Secretary of the Czech Foreign Ministry Miloslav Staszek, the parties agreed to further strengthen cooperation in a wide range of bilateral relations, expand cooperation in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
It was noted that, despite the deterioration of the global economic situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, the trade turnover between the two countries was maintained at a stable level: for example, in 2021, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic amounted to 260 million US dollars, which was due to an increase in exports from Kazakhstan by 16.9%.
Today, the Kazakh economy is interested in innovative and new industries, nanotechnologies, renewable energy and engineering in the Czech Republic, as well as cooperation in the agricultural sector, which occupies a significant place in the trade turnover of the two countries. An additional impetus to the development of cooperation, including business and tourism, will be given by the opening of regular flights between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic from June 12, 2022 (the Aktau-Prague flight will be operated by FlyArystan).
Taking into account the forthcoming Czech Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2022, the interlocutors discussed promising areas of cooperation in the RoK-EU format. Particular attention was paid to energy security issues, one of the most important priorities of the Czech mission at the head of the EU. It was noted that the Czech Republic is already covering a third of its oil needs with supplies from Kazakhstan, in connection with which the issues of ensuring the stability of these supplies in the future against the backdrop of a difficult geopolitical situation in Eurasia were discussed.
During his visit to Prague, R. Vassilenko also met with the Director of the International Department of the Office of the President (Presidential Administration) of the Czech Republic Rudolf Jindrak. During the conversation, an exchange of views took place on topical issues of the regional and international agenda.
R. Vasilenko informed the Czech interlocutors in detail about the ongoing large-scale political and socio-economic reforms in the country, put forward by the President of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev.
Czech diplomats noted the high level of bilateral relations achieved over the years of partnership and the progressive nature of their further development, and expressed support for the new course of political reforms in our country, aimed at building a "New Kazakhstan".
At the end of the visit, R. Vassilenko gave an interview to the Czech federal television ČTV and a number of other media. Czech journalists were very interested in issues related to Kazakhstan's attitude to the situation in Ukraine, interaction with the Czech Republic and the EU, as well as the upcoming national referendum on June 5, 2022 on amending the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
