UAE, Kazakhstan explore investment plans

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was welcomed by Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country's president. The meeting was the second in recent months, as Mr Nazarbayev met Sheikh Mohammed on an official visit to Abu Dhabi in March.

"Thanks to the great efforts by the UAE leadership, your country has become a world leader in development," Mr Nazarbayev said at the time.

"The future requires changes and adaptation to new developments and this is what you are always doing.

"This year, you are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sheikh Zayed, who left a lasting legacy in leadership, building and development thanks to his vision and policy you are following in his steps.''

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Wednesday held talks with Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, during his official visit to Astana.

Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was present.

Shaikh Mohammad and Nazarbayev discussed avenues of bilateral cooperation between bodies and institutions in both countries, and the strong bilateral relations that transcend political and economic aspects into the field of culture, which results in its continuous growth and development.

Shaikh Mohammad told Nazarbayev: “Thirty years ago, nobody expected Kazakhstan to reach this level of progress, but it did, thanks to your experience in leading this beautiful country, and your vision and wisdom. Our relations require more growth and development, because the relations out countries share are special.”

Shaikh Mohammad expressed his heartfelt wishes for more progress, prosperity and security for Kazakhstan and its people.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince indicated that areas of cooperation and coordination between the UAE and Kazakhstan are plentiful, diverse and ongoing, and are a source of optimism.

He pointed out that this level of cooperation and coordination was based on mutual interests, particularly when it comes to sources of income, renewable energy and establishing a knowledge-based economy.

Shaikh Mohammad stressed that there is strong Emirati interest in investing in Kazakhstan, which will drive forward the growing volume of investments between the two nations. He said that this is due to a number of agreements that concern preparing a suitable environment to encourage and expand bilateral economic and trade relations.

He reaffirmed that the UAE is keen on strengthening relations with friendly nations around the world, and that these relations are based on mutual respect and interests, as well as global stability and development.

For his part Nazarbayev said, thanks to the leaders of both countries, bilateral relations have developed to levels that call for optimism when it comes to further growth, which will meet the aspirations of both countries’ peoples.

He recalled the special relationship he shared with the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the founding father’s wise leadership and role in unifying the UAE.

Nazarbayev said the UAE was one of the first countries to support Kazakhstan during the early days of its independence, and that it continues to do so.

The Kazakh president then gifted Shaikh Mohammad a copy of the book With United Strength, which has been translated to Kazakh, and honoured Shaikh Mohammad with a medal commemorating the 20th anniversary of Astana.

UAE and Kazakhstan signed three memorandums of understanding.

They are as follows:

An agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons

A MoU between the Kazakh Ministry of Information and Communications and Sawab Centre

An agreement on joint cultural and art cooperation

Kazakhstan is the largest economy in central Asia, driven by oil and natural gas supplies.

Gulf News