President Tokayev and King Philippe of the Belgians issue joint statement

Tengrinews.kz — A joint statement has been released by His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, citing the Akorda press service.

At the invitation of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde have arrived in Kazakhstan for a state visit.

His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and His Majesty King Philippe held detailed discussions on the current state and prospects for further development of Kazakh-Belgian relations, and exchanged views on pressing regional and international issues.

Reaffirming their commitment to the further development and deepening of friendly relations between Kazakhstan and Belgium in the spirit of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, the parties:

1. noted that bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium is developing through close dialogue and in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect;

2. expressed their readiness to continue close cooperation within the framework of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part, dated December 21, 2015;

3. noted with satisfaction the steady presence of Belgian business in Kazakhstan and the significant potential for further growth in mutual trade and investment;

4. welcomed the activities of the Kazakhstan-Belgium Business Council and the convening of its fourth meeting during the state visit as an important mechanism for strengthening ties between the business communities of the two countries;

5. reaffirmed the importance of further developing cooperation in critical minerals, petrochemicals, industry and mechanical engineering, transport and logistics, and renewable energy;

6. emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation in the field of critical minerals and welcomed the holding of the Round Table on Critical Minerals as part of the state visit.

7. noted the importance of further developing transport and logistics cooperation and enhancing connectivity between Europe and Asia, and highlighted the growing role of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route as a reliable and sustainable transport link between Asia and Europe;

8. noted the growing significance of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and innovation for the sustainable economic development and competitiveness of both countries;

9. expressed interest in developing cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, big data, cloud technologies, supercomputing infrastructure, and data centers;

10. emphasized the significant potential for cooperation in agriculture and expressed their intention to facilitate the expansion of mutual trade in agricultural products, the development of the food industry, and the implementation of modern agro-technologies;

11. welcomed the Kazakhstan-Belgium Rectors' Forum held during the state visit and expressed support for the development of joint educational programs, academic mobility, joint scientific research, and the establishment of partnerships between universities and research centers;

12. reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation in healthcare, including reinforcing the role of primary health care (PHC) within the World Health Organization's Global Coalition on PHC based on the principles of the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration on PHC and the 2018 Astana Declaration, and implementing joint initiatives following the agreements to be reached at the "Towards the 50th Anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration: Shaping Strong Primary Health Care for Future Generations" conference, to be held on October 14, 2026, in Almaty;

13. reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and promoting a culture of peace, mutual respect, and tolerance;

14. emphasized the importance of joint efforts in combating climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation, as well as promoting sustainable development;

15. welcomed the entry into force of the Protocol amending the Agreement between Kazakhstan and the Benelux countries on visa exemptions for holders of service passports, dated November 7, 2024;

16. will endeavor to conclude negotiations and sign a bilateral agreement on the gainful employment of family members of staff from diplomatic missions, missions to international organizations, and consular posts, intending this to be a practical outcome for the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Belgium in 2027;

17. reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of international law, and the central role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, ensuring sustainable development, and addressing global challenges;

18. agreed to intensify bilateral political dialogue on international issues and economic development within the framework of the UN, the OSCE, and multilateral platforms such as "Kazakhstan – EU" and "Central Asia – EU";

19. expressed interest in further strengthening the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of April 10, 1972.

His Excellency President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations and reaffirmed their mutual resolve to provide fresh impetus to the Kazakhstan-Belgium partnership.

The parties expressed confidence that the first state visit of the King of the Belgians to Kazakhstan will become a major milestone in the history of bilateral relations and lay the foundation for their further high-quality development.