Envoys of six countries presented their credentials to Gulshara Abdykalikova, including Ambassadors of Mexico, Venezuela, Congo, North Korea, Sudan and El Salvador (with concurrent accreditation in Kazakhstan).
The Secretary of State thanked the Ambassadors for the support of Astana in its bid to host EXPO-2017 and of Kazakhstan’s candidacy for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.
In a conversation with Ambassador of Mexico Martha Elena Barcena, Gulshara Abdykalikova stressed that Mexico is a second largest trade partner of Kazakhstan in Latin America after Brazil. In 2014, the trade turnover between the two countries accounted for 120.8 million. The Secretary of State expressed confidence that the establishment of direct diplomatic relations, implying the opening of Mexican Embassy in Kazakhstan, will ensure further deepening of interstate cooperation not only in political and economic, but also in social and humanitarian spheres.
After the ceremony Gulshara Abdykalikova held separate bilateral meetings with the ambassadors to discuss current state and future prospects for the development of interstate relations. As stressed by the Secretary of State, in the context of globalisation the development of cooperation in political, economic, commercial, scientific, cultural and other areas meet the national interests of our countries. In this regard, the success of diplomacy is determined by the achieved level of cooperation.
The sides also noted deep mutual interest in expanding contacts on a wide range of issues, including cooperation in oil and gas, mining industry, food production, alternative energy and financial sector.
Gulshara Abdykalikova expressed her hope that the activities of the Ambassadors will contribute to further strengthening of cooperation between our countries.