What Agreements Did Toqayev Conclude with The President of Guinea-Bissau?

President Qaym-Jomart Toqayev met his counterpart from Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló, Orda reports.

Embaló is in Kazakhstan on an official visit at the Aqorda residence. The two leaders held talks and then adopted a joint statement.

First, negotiations were held in a narrow format, at which Toqayev stated that Guinea-Bissau is an essential partner of Kazakhstan on the African continent.

We have similar views on current international topics, and we are ready to expand our contacts with your representatives in key international structures, primarily in the UN, as well as in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said the Head of State.

Embaló recalled his last visit to Astana as Prime Minister.

He supported Toqayev in his interest in further partnership.

In particular, Embaló expressed the desire for the youth of his country to receive education in Kazakhstan's universities:

Your country has previously trained students from Guinea-Bissau, many of whom were technical specialists. We want to continue cooperation in this area because we are confident that we can learn a lot from Kazakhstan.

Qasym-Jomart Toqayev and Umaru Sisoku Embaló subsequently held talks in an expanded format.

The official delegations of both countries participated.

The Presidents agreed to bolster agriculture, logistics, mining and metallurgy cooperation, finance, etc. 

They also adopted several documents:

• Agreement between holders of diplomatic and service passports on exemption from visa requirements.
• Memorandum on political and diplomatic consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
• Memorandum of cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies.

Commenting on Embaló’s visit to Astana, Majilis deputy Samat Nurtaza emphasized that Guinea-Bissau could become a starting point for Kazakhstan’s entry into the markets of the African continent.

Guinea-Bissau is ideal as a shipping hub for maritime shipping. So I think this is one of many diplomatic achievements. If in the near future Kazakhstan invests in Latin America and Africa, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Congo can become ports where our ships can stop, Nurtaza believes.

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Guinea-Bissau were established 10 years ago.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova