Mexico plans to open its embassy in Kazakhstan this year, according to a May 20 announcement during the presentation of credentials to Secretary of State of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalykova by the non-resident ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Mexico, Venezuela, Congo, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Sudan and El Salvador in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting with Ambassador of Mexico Marta Elena Bárcena, the secretary of state stressed that Mexico is the second largest trading partner of Kazakhstan in Latin America after Brazil. Trade turnover between the two countries in 2014 totalled $120.8 million. She expressed confidence that the establishment of direct diplomatic relations in connection with the planned 2015 opening of the Mexican embassy in Kazakhstan will deepen bilateral political and economic, as well as social and humanitarian relations. Kazakhstan has opened its diplomatic presence in Mexico City last year but it has yet to appoint its ambassador there.
As Abdykalykova stressed, in the context of globalisation, the development of cooperation in political, economic, commercial, scientific, cultural and other areas meets the national interests of both countries. In this regard, the level of cooperation contributes to the level of diplomatic success.
“Abdykalykova thanked the ambassadors of Mexico, Venezuela, Congo and North Korea for support of Astana to host EXPO 2017, as well as the ambassadors of Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and North Korea for support of Kazakhstan’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018,” the Akorda statement on the event read.
The sides noted the deep mutual interest in expanding contacts on a wide range of issues, including cooperation in the financial sector, the oil and gas sector and the mining industry, food production, alternative energy and others.
The secretary of state expressed the hope that the activities of the ambassadors of these countries will contribute to continuing cooperation between their countries and Kazakhstan.
