Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Special Representative of the President of France Isabelle Dumont. The Special Representative of the President of France presented Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with a message from French leader Emmanuel Macron, El.kz reports with reference to the press service of Akorda.
The Head of State, welcoming Isabelle Dumont, expressed gratitude to President Emmanuel Macron for his message, noting that France is among the key political and economic partners of Kazakhstan in the European region.
The meeting discussed the prospects for further strengthening bilateral relations in the context of the implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level.
- I am very impressed by our meeting with the President of France on November 29 last year. In a one-on-one format, we talked for more than 2 hours on the most pressing issues of bilateral relations and cooperation between our countries, as well as on the situation that is developing in the international arena. France is one of the leading political and economic partners of Kazakhstan. We appreciate our cooperation with your state, understand the role of your country in the international arena, properly assess the economic potential of France. Your country was the first member of the European Union to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Kazakhstan, which was in June 2008. This year we will celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the conclusion of this important document. Once again, I want to note that an active and trusting political dialogue is maintained between our countries at all levels, the Head of our state said.
The President highly appreciated the dynamic development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries. According to him, Kazakhstan is the leading trading partner of France in Central Asia. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conveyed his best wishes to President Emmanuel Macron and noted that he expects a return visit to Kazakhstan.
- I believe that such a visit will certainly give a serious impetus to economic and political cooperation. There are a lot of agreements between us that need to be implemented. There are 170 enterprises with the participation of French capital in Kazakhstan and the interests of leading French companies are represented. We will provide full support for the activities of French companies in our economy, the President emphasized.
In turn, Isabelle Dumont reported on France's interest in developing relations with Kazakhstan. She said her country fully supported political reforms in Kazakhstan. The Special Representative of the President of France highly appreciated the position of Kazakhstan in the current difficult geopolitical situation in the world.
- I want to convey to you the greetings of my President. I know that he also has very good memories of your meeting in Paris at the end of November. This is a very important moment for us, and it is important for us to hear from you how you see what is happening in the region. Your visit really gave our cooperation a new impetus. We would like to continue this cooperation on the basis of our strategic partnership, this is very important for us," said Isabelle Dumont.
The interlocutors also exchanged views on topical issues of the international and regional agenda.