ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held talks in Berlin on Sept. 29 to discuss the development of bilateral relations and prospects for further cooperation.
On September 29, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. The two leaders discussed the current state of Kazakhstan-Germany relations and explored opportunities to expand cooperation across various areas. Photo credit: Akorda
Tokayev thanked Steinmeier for the reception and invitation to visit Germany, describing the country as Kazakhstan’s key strategic partner in Europe. He said bilateral ties are based on mutual trust, respect and shared interests.
The two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Tokayev noted significant progress across a broad range of cooperation over the past three decades.
Steinmeier, in turn, highlighted Tokayev’s personal contribution to expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany. He said the visit would add momentum to bilateral relations and take them to a new level.
Economic cooperation takes a central place
The talks come as economic ties have become an important component of the Kazakhstan-Germany partnership. Earlier on Sept. 29, Tokayev met with heads of leading German business associations and financial institutions, where he proposed establishing a Kazakhstan-Germany Investment and Financial Platform to facilitate joint projects and investment.
During the visit, Tokayev also met with executives of major German companies, discussing transport and logistics, industrial localization, engineering, metallurgy and waste processing. Discussions included developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, modernizing railway and logistics infrastructure, expanding manufacturing in Kazakhstan, developing engineering and service capabilities, and exploring potential projects in metal processing and waste management.
A visit at a new stage of relations
Tokayev’s Sept. 29-Oct. 1 visit includes meetings in Berlin and Munich and comes as Kazakhstan-Germany relations continue to expand politically and economically.
At the same time, the discussions have increasingly focused on moving from political dialogue and existing cooperation frameworks toward specific investment, industrial and infrastructure projects.
The meetings in Germany aim to strengthen this economic dimension of bilateral relations and expand opportunities for German companies in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian market.
