Within the framework of the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Armenia, a round table “Kazakhstan-Armenia: Present and Future” was held in Yerevan, El.kz cites MFA.
The event, organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan, was attended by representatives of the National Assembly, ministries and departments, international organizations, the business community, political scientists and experts from leading think tanks, as well as the Armenian media.
During the event, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Armenia Bolat Imanbayev informed the participants about the ongoing large-scale reforms in Kazakhstan, current situation and prospects for the development of Kazakh-Armenian relations, providing detailed information on the country’s foreign policy priorities. In this context, a thematic video was demonstrated. Experts highly appreciated the reforms being implemented in the country in the political, economic and social spheres and noted significant achievements in the context of building Just and Fair Kazakhstan. According to Johnny Melikyan, a leading expert at the Center for Public Relations and Information under the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, “Kazakhstan’s peace initiatives and humanitarian activity within the framework of the KazAID are an indisputable confirmation of Astana’s status as a “middle power”.
Commenting on the current trends in the development of Kazakh-Armenian cooperation, the participants noted that the current year in bilateral relations is symbolic and eventful both in the context of significant dates and meaningful content. According to experts, the official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Armenia in April this year and the agreements reached following the results of the high-level talks gave a special impetus to the interaction. In turn, the official visit of Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan to Kazakhstan in October of this year became evidence of Yerevan’s firm attitude to further strengthen ties with Astana. According to them, modern bilateral relations are characterized by active political dialogue and dynamic growth of trade and economic relations and cultural and humanitarian ties. According to political observer, journalist Arshaluis Mgdesyan, “active interaction between countries also contributes to effective cooperation within the framework of integration associations.”
MP, Head of the Armenia-Kazakhstan Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Armenia Vagharshak Hakobyan noted the high level of political interaction between the countries and the interest of the Armenian side in strengthening bilateral inter-parliamentary ties. Hakobyan, who is the Ambassador of Friendship of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, also paid special attention to the uniqueness of Kazakhstan’s model of interethnic policy. “I would like to express my gratitude to Kazakhstan for creating the necessary conditions for the preservation of its native language, culture and traditions by the Armenian diaspora. They feel comfortable in Kazakhstan,” Hakobyan emphasized. Head of the Department of the Eurasian Region of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Zhirayr Ananyan also pointed out the dynamic development of relations between Armenia and Kazakhstan in all directions, filled with new content of mutual interest.
Doctor of Economics, Professor Tatul Manaseryan focused on the positive experience of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy in the context of economic diplomacy. According to the Head of the Trade and Investment Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Hayk Margaryan, “the Kazakh-Armenian business forums held this year in Kazakhstan and Armenia contributed to the achievement of agreements on the opening of an Armenian project in Astana – the TUMO school of creative technologies, trading houses of Armenia at the ICPS “Khorgos”, in Almaty and Petropavlovsk. Opening of similar Kazakh pavilions in Armenia is being worked out.” At the same time, according to the participants, geographical remoteness and existing transport logistics impede effective bilateral trade and economic cooperation. In this regard, taking into account the trade and logistics capabilities of Kazakhstan, it is necessary to determine the optimal transport routes that will contribute to the diversification of the range of trade between the two countries.
Participants also noted with particular satisfaction the ongoing cooperation between the expert circles of the two countries. According to the founder of the Armenian Institute for Resilience and Statecraft Gevorg Melikyan, “Kazakh-Armenian expert forum held in May this year in Yerevan together with the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as participation of Armenian experts in the first Astana Think Tank Forum in October this year testifies to mutual interest in the development of relations in this area, as well as create the possibility of joint development of proposals and new approaches to promote national interests.”
Following the round table, the participants stressed the importance of continuing the practice of holding similar events in order to exchange views on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Armenia