ASTANA, December 5. /TASS/. Kazakhstan is playing an important political and diplomatic role in major political events, including the settlement of relations between Russia and the EU, France’s President Francois Hollande said during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Friday.

“Kazakstan has not only successfully implemented its economic development, but it is also playing a very important political, diplomatic role. Thus, it may speak equally to all neighbours and influence major political events,” Kazakhstan’s presidential press service reported Hollande as saying.

France’s president also expressed hope for easing the tension in relations between Russia and Europe and pointed to Kazakhstan’s special role in the process.

“We are meeting at the time of tension between Russia and the European countries,” Kazakhstan’s presidential press service reported Hollande as saying. “I would like the situation settle, and here your country is playing a special role.”

Kazakhstan ready to help in settling Ukrainian crisis

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a news conference following his meeting with France’s President Francois Hollande the country is ready to take efforts to offer a compromise in settling the Ukrainian crisis.

“I believe good will and the desire to overcome this situation will prevail, and common sense will be playing the main role,” he said. At the negotiations, Nazarbayev said, the presidents discussed their approaches to settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

“We believe compromises are possible [in settlement of the Ukrainian crisis]. I am ready to apply Kazakhstan’s efforts to it, and France’s president is supporting our efforts,” Kazakhstan’s president said.

“Francois Hollande and I are sharing similar positions: we would like to find common approaches to overcome the crisis, which does not benefit anyone, which affects the international political situation and which has a negative influence on the economies not only of Europe or Asia, but of the entire world,” he said in conclusion.

Kazakhstan-France cooperation

The presidents discussed key directions of the strategic partnership, cooperation in trade, investments, oil and gas, space and in railway machinery.

Nazarbayev said the relations between Kazakhstan and France are at “the level of strategic partnership.”

“Over 100 French companies and many joint ventures are working in Kazakhstan. We have dozens new projects. I am pleased you have come with a big group representing businesses. I am sure our meeting will favour development of our relations,” Nazarbayev said.

“If we go back and trace the development of Kazakhstan from the time Francois Mitterrand visited the country [in 1993], we see how different Kazakhstan is now, how it develops,” Hollande said.

France’s president began on Friday a two-day visit to Kazakhstan. The delegation travelling will the president features representatives of 50 French companies. Press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Investments and Development says the two countries may sign at the business forum in Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana agreements worth about $530.3 million.