MINSK, 5 September (BelTA) – Kazakhstan and Belarus are key, strategic allies and partners, which cooperate in various areas. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Timur Zhaxylykov made the relevant statement during a roundtable session held to discuss the latest address by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the people of Kazakhstan, BelTA has learned.
Timur Zhaxylykov said: “Kazakhstan and Belarus are key, strategic allies and partners. Our cooperation develops very dynamically and fruitfully across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations: political ones, economic ones, cultural and humanitarian ones, and many other ones. We efficiently interact on platforms of multilateral organizations within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, since recently within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and many other ones.”
The roundtable session was organized upon the initiative of the Kazakh embassy. During the session Timur Zhaxylykov identified the main topical units which the Kazakhstan president’s address had focused on and which would determine the development of the country in the future.
In the economic sphere Kazakhstan intends to double its GDP within five years. To ensure such dynamics, it needs to increase the volume of investments, change the structure of the economy towards more technologies with focus on the processing industry. Plans are in place to implement 17 breakthrough strategic projects.
A very important task is related to the large-scale renovation of the energy infrastructure and the transport infrastructure, the ambassador noted. “This is why we are very much interested in the experience Belarus has with regard to the construction, commissioning, and operation of the nuclear power plant,” he said. “We will have to get to grips with it.” A nationwide referendum on building a nuclear power plant is scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan on 6 October 2024.
As a promising avenue of bilateral cooperation the head of the diplomatic mission mentioned manufacturing cooperation. “As many as 11 major manufacturing cooperation projects are being implemented in Kazakhstan with assistance of Belarusian partners. The projects are worth more than $200 million and provide for creating over 1,500 jobs. Three more projects are in the pipeline. Belarus is a country with a well-developed manufacturing sector and great technologies. This is why we participate in the realization of such joint projects with pleasure,” Timur Zhaxylykov stressed. “We are interested and are open to expanding the list of such priority projects, including not only in mechanical engineering but also in the production of construction materials, in light industry, and other sectors where Belarusian partners have the relevant competences, experience, and technological advantages.”
The development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence is one of the high priority tasks for Kazakhstan. The ambassador believes there is potential for stepping up cooperation with Belarus in this field. “We know that Belarus has very good, one of the cutting-edge foundations in the field of digital technologies, in the field of AI-related research. This is why we could establish cooperation in this field. We already have it. But we have to at least raise it to new heights,” Timur Zhaxylykov is convinced.
Kazakhstan intends to pay significant attention to enhancing the personnel potential in the near future, the diplomat noted. Belarus’ experience in this sphere is also of great interest. “We know that Belarus has a very progressive and high-quality model for higher education and vocational technical training. We are also interested in this experience,” Timur Zhaxylykov stressed. “We see that Belarusian education institutions have very high education standards. They train good engineers, technical personnel, and qualified blue-collar workers. As I visited Belarusian enterprises, I saw the high technological standards in this country. The education system has a lot to do with it. This is why we see very serious potential for advancing our cooperation in the sphere of education.”
Heads and representatives of Minsk-based higher education institutions took part in the roundtable session. The number included representatives of Belarusian State University, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Belarusian National Technical University, and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus. According to them, Belarus and Kazakhstan have a mutual interest in cooperation in education. For instance, BNTU Prorector Yuri Nikolaichik suggested sharing the best practices in the field of training personnel for the nuclear energy industry with Kazakhstan. Head of the International Economic Relations Department at Belarusian State University Natalya Yurova mentioned interest in stepping up interaction between the academic communities of the two countries. The first forum of rectors of Belarus and Kazakhstan will be organized in Minsk for the sake of thoroughly discussing all the raised topics.
Forest restoration is another field both countries are interested in. It is a very important matter for Kazakhstan where forests occupy only 5% of the territory. The head of state’s address drew attention to it. There are plans to plant up to 2 billion trees within the next few years. “Taking into account Belarus’ extensive experience regarding the preservation and reproduction of forests, our cooperation, including cooperation in science, can produce a big positive effect,” the ambassador is convinced.
In turn, Marina Lenchevskaya, Chairwoman of the Legislation Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, head of the Belarusian parliament’s taskforce on cooperation with the Kazakh parliament, drew attention to the affinity of the two nations and their historical commonality. “The Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan are based on the foundation of continuity of state power and justice relying on the equality of our citizens. We treat citizens of any nationality and religion with respect. It is very important in today’s complicated world where there is a great deal of challenges and threats,” she said. “People’s power is the foundation of the state power in our countries. State decisions of strategic importance are discussed with the nation. In my opinion, it is the greatest manifestation of democracy.”
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