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Andris Bērziņš at he Latvian-Kazakh Business Forum. Photo: president.lv

Both of Kazakhstan’s senior officials confirmed that Latvia is their country’s strategic partner in the Baltic region, adding that there is still unlimited potential to develop economic relations even further, particularly in terms of transport and transit corridors.

The prime minister and speaker particularly emphasised the fact that their country neighbours China, where there are half a billion consumers and where the market is expanding very quickly, indeed. At the same time, however, they also noted that relations with European Union and Western markets, which can also be reached via Latvia’s ports, are very important to them.

Trade data show that Latvia is Kazakhstan’s leading trade partner in the Baltic States, while Kazakhstan is Latvia’s leading trade partner in Central Asia. President Bērziņš and his hosts discussed unused opportunities which relate to major Kazakh railroad network projects, with tracks leading not just to the East, but also to the South, where the countries of the Persian Gulf are found.

“We know how rapidly Latvia is developing the use of new technologies in the processing industries, and we are very interested in working together with you in this area,” said Prime Minister Akhmetov. “We, in turn, can offer understandable and transparent conditions for foreign investors who wish to enter our market.”

President Bērziņš thanked his hosts for their hospitality, noting that the delegation which accompanied him includes five government ministers and more than 60 businesspeople, thus showing that Latvia is very much interested in co-operation with countries in the Central Asian region, particularly focusing on Kazakhstan as Latvia’s largest partner in the region.

In Astana, talks took place between Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and visiting Latvian President Andris Berzins, and the accent was on the already-good relations, whose foundation is historic ties and a stable and open dialogue on all levels.

President Nazarbayev, at the press briefing following, underlined: "Our nations have always had great respect for one another, and therefore of utmost importance during this visit was the unveiling of the memorial honoring the Latvian deportees who wound up in Karagand region labor camps."

In accentuating the excellent cooperation, the Kazakhstan leader mentioned that trade turnover between both countries soon is to reach at least one-half billion dollars. Nazarbayev also lauded the efforts of the intergovernmental commission.

President Berzins, in his turn, called agreements signed today "highly important for further bilateral cooperation." He also expressed gratitude to his hosts for the opportunity to visit Kazakhstan, which is "key for future development of bilateral relations."

The Latvian leader invited Nazarbayev to visit Latvia at any time convenient, noting Riga's special status as Europe's culture capital in 2014.