Kazakhstan-Spain: Achievements and Prospects of Diplomatic Relations over 30 year

For three decades, Kazakh-Spanish relations have been steadily developing in the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership.

This year Kazakhstan celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with various states, including the Kingdom of Spain.

It is noted that the governments of both countries positively assess the rapid development of Kazakh-Spanish relations over the past three decades. Throughout time, the states have established strong bilateral political relations and expanded economic and cultural exchanges. About what foreign policy significant initiatives were implemented by the parties on the way to strengthening diplomatic cooperation, read more in the material of the correspondent El.kz.

Since the first day of gaining its independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan has pursued a pragmatic, forward-looking and progressive foreign policy, in which special attention is paid to strengthening strong, stable alliances, meaningful partnerships and reliable friendly relations based on mutual respect. Thanks to its forward-looking leadership over the past thirty years, states have achieved many foreign policy and diplomatic successes. These include the establishment of strong partnership relations with Spain, which originate on February 11, 1992, a joint declaration was signed in Moscow, at that time the Heads of State - the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the King of Spain Juan Carlos I.

Thus, already in 1999, the countries opened the first embassies: Spain in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan in Madrid. Since then, relations between the two states have developed exclusively in a positive way, and the mutual desire for cooperation has allowed the countries to maintain ideal relations for 30 years.

Another important step towards strengthening diplomatic cooperation between the countries was the signing of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and Spain in 2009. This agreement strengthens the relationship between the two sides and their diplomatic relations.

Among other measures implemented within the framework of this document, it is worth paying special attention to the regular flow of high-level contacts between the two countries and the existence of a joint commission on economic and industrial cooperation. This commission meets every two years at the level of state authorized persons in the field of trade.

The friendly relations of the previously mentioned former heads of state also became a determining factor in such close and productive diplomatic cooperation. Thanks to the contacts established by the First President of our Republic Nursultan Nazarbayev and the former King of Spain Juan Carlos I throughout the time, Kazakh-Spanish relations have been steadily developing in the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership.

So, in the first years after Kazakhstan gained its Independence, Nursultan Nazarbayev made an official visit to Spain for the first time. There, the First President of Kazakhstan was presented with a symbolic key to the city of Madrid and an honorary award badge of a member of the Senate of the Kingdom of Spain. It is noteworthy that King Juan Carlos I has repeatedly emphasized the significant role of Kazakhstan in Europe's security issues, speaking about the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In addition, at the beginning of 1996, Spain became one of the first member states of the European Union to ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan. Four years after Nursultan Nazarbayev's first visit, in February 1998, the Spanish monarch arrived in Kazakhstan for the first time on a return state visit. Then the First President of Kazakhstan received him at his residence in order to personally discuss the further vector of diplomatic and strategic cooperation between the states.

Today, our country acts for Spain as a state with great economic resources and a partner of great importance. This is explained by the fact that Kazakhstan is a fairly large supplier of oil with a total volume of 7%. It should also be noted that agreements of a cultural nature have been signed between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Spain, such as the Agreement on Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation, signed in 1997. In addition, there are consular agreements between states, signed in Madrid in 2009, an agreement on the mutual cancellation of visas in diplomatic passports or others, an agreement on cooperation in combating crime or an extradition treaty. Both countries have reached non-regulatory agreements due to their excellent relations in tourism, education, military cooperation, trade and investment. At the economic level, our country has purchased several aircrafts produced in Spain in 2021 and has become an important supplier of hydrocarbons to its partner.

All these achievements, which emphasize the strength of diplomatic relations, have led to a better understanding between the two countries and greater closeness between the two nations. As previously reported in the official statement of the Spanish side, timed to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Government of the Kingdom expresses its readiness to use the opportunity of this anniversary to give a new impetus to these relations both at the bilateral level and through the European Union.

In particular, we are talking about joint work within the framework of the European Union Strategy for Central Asia and the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan. The Spanish leadership also supports and urges Kazakhstan to continue the process of political and economic reforms undertaken in recent years.

"On the occasion of this significant milestone in our bilateral relations, the Government of Spain expresses its wishes for peace, well-being and prosperity to the friendly people of Kazakhstan," reads an official statement on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain.

Thus, bilateral relations between our two countries have reached a high level both politically and economically. However, the opportunities and prospects for improvement remain ample in all areas.