Berlin, December 14, 2023 – During a working visit to Berlin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko met with the Commissioner for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany Matthias Luttenberg.
During the meeting, held in the spirit of mutual understanding and open dialogue, the parties discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral, regional and international agenda, including a number of proposals on the implementation of the agreements reached during this year at the highest level.
The Kazakh diplomat highly appreciated the dynamics of the development of bilateral relations in 2023: “The mutual visits of the presidents of the two countries – Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kazakhstan and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Germany – as well as negotiations between the heads of the foreign ministries of our countries – Murat Nurtleu and Annalena Berbok – gave a serious impetus to the development of political dialogue.”
M. Luttenberg, in turn, positively assessed the cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany and expressed readiness to work on strengthening the strategic regional partnership within the framework of the adopted Joint Statement of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany.
During the negotiations, special attention was paid to climate change issues. Thus, the interlocutors agreed that the climate agenda in the Central Asian region is currently becoming particularly relevant, due to the deterioration of the environmental situation, the growing shortage of water resources, and drought, which has a negative impact on the entire region.
R.Vasilenko informed the German partners about the resumption of national commitments within the framework of the adopted Strategy for Low-carbon Development, decarbonization of the country in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the conservation of biodiversity. He said that during the World Climate Summit EXPO-28, which ended recently in the UAE, Kazakhstan joined the Global Commitment to reduce methane emissions.
The German side received with interest information about the initiatives of the Head of our State on the creation of a Project Office of the Central Asian countries for environmental protection and the holding of a Regional Climate Summit in 2026 in Kazakhstan under the auspices of the United Nations.
M. Luttenberg noted that a positive example of the development of cooperation between the two countries in this direction was the accession of Kazakhstan to the Climate Club, at the invitation of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The parties also positively assessed a number of cooperative environmental projects within the framework of the German Green Central Asia initiative.
Issues related to the development of cooperation in the energy sector were also discussed at the meeting.
In the transport and logistics sector, the growing role of the “Middle Corridor” has been noted, which is the shortest route for the supply of goods and products from Central and East Asia to Europe.
The diplomats of the two countries expressed satisfaction with the observed positive dynamics of mutual trade turnover.
On the same day, Roman Vasilenko visited the leading German scientific and analytical center, the Foundation for Science and Politics (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik).
During the conversation with the director of the foundation, Dr. Stefan Mayr, topical issues of the international agenda were discussed, including regional security, commodity cooperation, development of trade and energy ties between Kazakhstan and Germany.
The sides exchanged views on the development of cooperation between the Central Asian states, Kazakhstan’s initiatives and promising areas of cooperation with Germany.
Prospects for further deepening the Fund’s interaction with analytical centers in Kazakhstan were discussed.
For reference: Foundation for Science and Politics (SWP) – It is one of the largest analytical centers in Europe in the field of security policy, international and European politics.
Based on his own scientific research, he advises the Bundestag and the German Federal Government. The Foundation also provides its services to political decision makers in international organizations – the EU, NATO and the United Nations.
SWP has about 200 employees and collaborates with visiting researchers, fellows and interns.
A source: www.gov.kz
