Toqayev Met with EU Council President, European Commission President in Uzbekistan

Qasym-Jomart Toqayev held a meeting with the President of the European Council in Uzbekistan, António Costa, Orda reports.

The two discussed the dynamic development of relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union:

• The EU accounts for over 40% of total foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan
• In 2024, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and EU member states reached approximately $50 billion — representing 80% of the EU’s trade with Central Asian countries

After the official talks concluded, Toqayev and Costa continued their conversation in a warm and informal setting.

Toqayev also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The two discussed the potential simplification of the Schengen visa application process, as well as the implementation of transport and logistics projects, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

During the meeting, Toqayev outlined three key areas of priority in cooperation with the EU:

• Energy
• Infrastructure and industrial projects
• Digital innovation, advanced technologies, and artificial intelligence

Toqayev arrived in Samarqand for the "Central Asia – European Union" summit at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Toqayev on discovering a significant rare earth metal deposit in Kazakhstan.

The promising deposit, with estimated resources in the tens of millions of tons, was recently announced by geologists from Tsentrlgeols'yomka LLP.

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