During his official visit in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 8 June, Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Kazakhstan‘s Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin.
The Ministers discussed preparations of Lithuania and Kazakhstan to chair the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), economic cooperation and other important issues of bilateral relations.
Heads of Lithuanian and Kazakh diplomacy agreed on a joint statement concerning the cooperation of the states in preparing for the OSCE chairmanship and concerning consultations about important OSCE issues, exchange of the representatives of the countries and training of diplomats.
The Ministers were positive about the cooperation in preparing for the OSCE chairmanship and about the implementation of the action plan. On 1-14 June a joint training of Lithuanian and Kazakh diplomats is taking place in Vienna.
Foreign Ministers of Lithuania and Kazakhstan signed an agreement concerning visa-free travels for the holders of diplomatic passports. It was also agreed to draft a bilateral readmission agreement by the end of summer.
Minister V.Ušackas invited Minister M.Tazhin to pay a visit to Lithuania.
As of 2010 Lithuania and Kazakhstan will work together in the OSCE troika. In 2010 the OSCE chairmanship will be held by Kazakhstan and Lithuania will chair the organization in 2011.
On 8 June, Minister V.Ušackas and Lithuania‘s Minister for Agriculture Kazimieras Starkevičius also met with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov. The officials discussed trade and economic cooperation, preparations for the fifth meeting of the bilateral Lithuanian-Kazakh commission on trade and economic cooperation which is scheduled for this autumn.
Minister V.Ušackas invited heads of Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics companies to attend the Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum which is organized on 19 October in Vilnius in the framework of the first ASEM Transport Minister's Meeting.
“The Forum will dedicate its main attention to the issues of land transport, therefore the participation and contribution of Kazakhstan will be of special importance“, Minister V.Ušackas said.
Kazakhstan is the biggest trade partner of Lithuania in the region. In 2008, foreign trade between Lithuania and Kazakhstan increased by 8.3 per cent (as compared to the data of 2007) and amounted to 1 128.8 million Litas (326.9 million Euros).
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