In his remarks, the Head of State once again emphasized that the historic state visit of the King and Queen of the Belgians opens a new and distinguished chapter in the history of bilateral relations and stands as a vivid testament to the friendship between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Belgium.
“Your Majesty, under your wise and strong leadership, Belgium stands as a nation united in its diversity and open to the world. Your devotion to your people and your tireless efforts to strengthen understanding among Belgium’s communities embody the unifying role of the Crown. In these challenging times, your moral authority and unwavering sense of duty inspire confidence and deserve deep respect. I sincerely appreciate your friendship and unwavering commitment to strengthening ties with Kazakhstan over many years. I am delighted that we can mark that bond together today. Owing much to your tireless efforts and profound support, we look to the future of our cooperation with great optimism and aspiration,” the President said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined some of the outcomes of the fruitful negotiations, which took place in an open, friendly and constructive atmosphere.
“We reaffirmed our determination to strengthen the multifaceted partnership between both Kazakhstan and Belgium. Our relations are free from political differences or outstanding issues. This provides a solid foundation to enhance our cooperation across all areas. Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of our partnership. Belgium is among Kazakhstan’s leading investment partners, with over 15 billion US dollars invested in our economy since 2005. We agreed to pursue new opportunities in transport and logistics, critical minerals, energy, industry, agriculture, biotechnology, digitalization and space technologies. I welcome the participation of representatives of many leading Belgian businesses in this historic visit. This clearly demonstrates Belgium’s confidence in Kazakhstan’s economic potential. Our Government will continue to create favorable conditions for Belgian investors to expand their presence and pursue new opportunities in Kazakhstan. Their full and timely implementation will be under my personal monitoring and control,” the Head of State assured.
As the President noted, the Kazakh-Belgium Business Forum, the Rectors’ Forum and Roundtable on Critical Minerals scheduled for tomorrow will serve as important platform for translating our shared aspirations into tangible results. Dozens of bilateral agreements and documents are expected to be signed following these events, giving additional impetus to the development of the partnership.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev then briefed the media on the agreements reached in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.
“We agreed to strengthen direct ties between our universities, museums and cultural institutions, while promoting joint educational programmes and academic exchanges. I highly value our Belgian partners for bringing the remarkable works of James Ensor to Kazakhstan’s National Museum. We also welcome the emerging cooperation between Almaty Museum of Arts and KANAL-Centre Pompidou, a vibrant expression of Belgium’s creativity and cultural ambition. These initiatives offer our people a unique opportunity to discover Belgium’s rich artistic heritage and bring our societies closer together. We also welcome progress in making travel easier through the amendment to the Visa Exemption Agreement for Holders of Service Passports. The Joint Statement we adopted today reflects these shared priorities,” the Head of State noted.
According to the President, the two sides also exchanged views on pressing international and regional issues.
“Kazakhstan and Belgium share a firm commitment to international law, multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. At a time of growing global uncertainty, dialogue, mutual trust and responsible diplomacy are more essential than ever. We reaffirmed the importance of Kazakhstan’s strategic partnership with the European Union embodied in the agreements signed during my recent visit to Brussels.,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
In conclusion, the Head of State thanked his Belgian counterparts for a warm and symbolic gesture, noting that at that very moment, the national flag of Kazakhstan is being raised for the first time in Brussels’ central square, the Grand-Place, in front of the City Hall.
“Belgium’s national motto, L’union fait la force – ‘Unity makes strength’ – echoes the Kazakh saying ‘Бірлік бар жерде тірлік бар’ – ‘Where there is unity, there is prosperity.’ These shared values lie at the heart of our friendship. I am confident that this state visit will mark historic turning point in the history of Kazakh-Belgian relations. The Kazakh people will never forget your kindness, generosity, nobility and wisdom,” the President concluded.
In turn, King Philippe of the Belgians thanked Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm welcome, noting that over the past three decades, the two countries had established strong and enduring ties.
“When you, Mr. President, visited Brussels and so cordially invited us for a state visit to your country, there was no hesitation. I am particularly happy that this visit takes place in the year celebrating Kazakhstan’s 35th independence anniversary. The three coming days will allow us to explore the potential and opportunities our countries offer each other. We will celebrate our friendship through culture. We will have the privilege to have a glimpse of the greatness and beauty of Kazakhstan,” the King of the Belgians said.
According to King Philippe, Belgium is a significant investor in Kazakhstan’s economy, and many Belgian companies have established a strong presence in the Kazakh market. He emphasized that he was particularly looking forward to the forthcoming meeting of the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council.
The King of the Belgians also highlighted Kazakhstan’s growing standing on the international stage and its dynamic economic development across various sectors.
“The continuing transformation of Kazakhstan into a world player is impressive. Only recently, the Kazakh people cemented constitutional reform reflecting new ambitions for the country. By all standards, Kazakhstan is today a modern society built on ancient foundations and honored traditions. With a well-educated population, a large middle class and state-of-the art infrastructure, Kazakhstan is ready to tackle the challenges of the future. It is at the forefront of digitalization and it is has developed unique solutions, especially in the area of artificial intelligence. We are keen to visit the Alem.AI centre and discuss synergies synergies between our countries,” he said.
King Philippe also expressed his intention to gain a deeper understanding of Kazakhstan’s rich history and culture.
“I am looking forward very much to visiting iconic places and museums in Astana and in Almaty, offering a glimpse of the depth going back to the Golden Horde. With the Belgian delegation, I am enthusiastic to discover the natural and cultural wealth, so beautifully described by the incomparable Abai and at the heart of Kazakh national identity. Kazakhstan is the epitome of hospitality – qonaqzhailyq. It actively promotes internal but also regional and international harmony and understanding. It has always played this role,” he noted.
In conclusion, the King of the Belgians once again expressed his gratitude for the hospitality.
“Шаңырағыңыз биік болсын, I hope I say it right, is a befitting expression to describe the spirit guiding this Belgian state visit to Kazakhstan. The shanyrak allows the sun rays to enter, enlighten and warm a beautiful home, make dwellers and guests alike feel welcome and happy. It reflects the high ambition to achieve positive results and move forward,” King Philippe concluded.
