THE SPEAKER OF THE MAZHILIS SPEAKER MET WITH THE HEAD OF EU DELEGATION IN KAZAKHSTAN

Astana, December 22, the House of the Mazhilis. Today the Chairman of the Mazhilis Kabibulla Dzhakupov received the head of the EU Delegation in Kazakhstan Traian Hristea. By expressing the congratulation to the diplomat on his appointment, K. Dzhakupov expressed confidence that the Ambassador’s activity will promote further strengthening of political dialogue and mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and the European Union. During the meeting the sides stressed the importance of the Agreement signed on the eve on the extended partnership and cooperation between our country and the EU. Kabibulla Dzhakupov and Traian Hristea expressed their willingness to accelerate the process of ratification of the new document in the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan and the European Parliament, which, according to the parties, will contribute to the effective implementation of the full potential of the new Agreement. At that T.Hristea stressed that Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia, which has signed this kind of agreement. It is noted that the EU is the largest trading and investment partner of our country. The gross inflow of direct investment from European countries into the economy of Kazakhstan exceeded 102 billion USD (from total 212 billion USD involved). According to the Chairman of the Mazhilis, the further expansion of contacts between representatives of business and citizens, the strengthening of cultural ties could help and simplify the visa regime between Kazakhstan and the European Union. The Chairman of the Mazhilis also spoke about state programs operating in the country “Nurly Zhol” and the forced industrial development, liberalization of tax and labor laws for foreign investors, as well as the work of parliamentarians on legislative support of the Plan of the Nation - 100 concrete steps. By discussing the topic of inter-parliamentary diplomacy, T. Hristea has highly assessed the results of the 13^th meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU, held in September this year. One of the topics o discussed by Kazakhstani and European members of the Parliaments was a new EU strategy on Central Asia, in particular, the issues of cooperation in the field of education, the supremacy of law, the environment and the situation with the human rights in Kazakhstan.

(Olga Abramova, 74-68-44, photo by S.Maylybaeva, distributed by the press service of the Mazhilis)