ASTANA, June 3 (Itar-Tass) - Kazakhstan’s participation in the Customs Union and the common economic space does not hamper cooperation with the eurozone countries, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
Speaking at a press conference after the talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday, Nazarbayev said, “We discussed regional security and stability. While considering the activity of the Customs Union and the common economic space, we noted that they would not hamper our trade with third countries, as well as with the European Union.”
The Kazakhstani president said during the talks, they agreed to step up the adoption of a new agreement on partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union. “We intend to open a new era in our relationship by ending talks to adopt a new agreement on expanded partnership. The document is designed to develop multifaceted cooperation and provides a solid base for further intensification of our relations, which are rather dynamical,” Barroso said.
In addition, he stressed that the European Union also supported Kazakhstan’s initiative on joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Barroso said the parties had reached agreement on key conditions for Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO.
The parties also noted the increase in bilateral cooperation in all directions. Nazarbayev said over the 20 years the EU’s investments in the Kazakhstani economy had reached 80 billion dollars. Trade turnover amounted to 53 billion U.S. dollars, Nazarbayev said.
Barroso added that the EU was one of the key partners of Kazakhstan (about 45 percent of trade turnover accounts on the EU).