HM the Sultan and Kazakhstan President hold talks

Astana: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on Wednesday held a bilateral session of talks at the Palace of Independence in the capital, Astana. The two leaders also discussed the full spectrum of Omani-Kazakh relations and the understanding and shared desire that bind the two countries to entrench cooperation and propel it towards broader domains.The President of Kazakhstan delivered a welcoming address in honour of His Majesty the Sultan in which he said that this visit is historic by all measures and will be most fruitful, culminating in the signing of numerous important agreements. He noted that the presence of His Majesty the Sultan in the capital of his country, on his first visit to Central Asia in his capacity as Sultan, holds profound significance for him personally as President of Kazakhstan, as well as for the Kazakh people.He added that Kazakhstan holds a deep respect for the wisdom and visionary leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, for the rich heritage and friendly people of the Sultanate of Oman, affirming that his country regards the Sultanate of Oman as a reliable and steadfast partner in the Arab world and indeed beyond.The President of Kazakhstan noted that the coming year will witness the celebration of an important milestone — the thirty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He affirmed that, throughout this period, the two countries have succeeded in building a solid foundation for launching a new and dynamic phase of growing partnership, grounded in long years of friendship, mutual support and steadfast solidarity.He expressed his profound appreciation for the pivotal role undertaken by His Majesty the Sultan in strengthening the multifaceted partnership between the two countries. He noted that he has decided to bestow upon His Majesty the Order of Altyn Qyran, the highest state decoration, in recognition of the relations founded upon friendship and mutual support between the two countries under His Majesty's wise leadership.He made clear that the Sultanate of Oman has achieved a remarkable economic transformation and has become a pillar of stability in the Middle East region, while its influence and influential voice continue to resonate on the international stage. He affirmed that this stands as powerful testimony to the wisdom and far-sighted vision of His Majesty the Sultan.He expressed his firm conviction that the agreements signed by the two countries will yield profound benefits for the two nations and will elevate the strategic partnership between them to a new level.He noted that during the talks, a significant package of bilateral agreements will be signed, encompassing multiple spheres of economic cooperation, including energy, transport and logistics services, agriculture, information technology and digital transformation, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, among other fields.He expressed his hope that the Kazakhstan –Oman Business Forum, to be held today, will contribute to imparting a strong new impetus to trade and investment partnership between the two countries, affirming his aspiration for joint participation in this important event and the steps that will follow.He made clear that, beyond political and economic cooperation, the two countries are also bound by a profound cultural heritage and ever-growing human ties.He said: "I would like to reiterate that, as President of Kazakhstan, I shall spare no effort to develop comprehensive cooperation between Kazakhstan and Oman, and as I have said, all of this will be under my personal follow-up."He expressed his optimism that the two countries will, in the very near future, achieve new milestones in their bilateral cooperation, affirming their steadfast commitment to establishing closer relations and strengthening cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman.In conclusion of his address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan reaffirmed Kazakhstan's immense honour in hosting the visit of His Majesty the Sultan, expressing his delight at the presence of His Majesty personally among the people of Kazakhstan and in the capital, Astana.Then, His Majesty the Sultan delivered an address, reading as follows:“Ladies and Gentlemen,I am very pleased to be here in Kazakhstan.Oman and Kazakhstan share a longstanding friendship, built over more than three decades on mutual respect, trust and a common desire for constructive cooperation.Our meeting today to reaffirm the strength of this relationship and, more importantly, our shared vision to take it forward into a new and more dynamic phase.We see the opportunity to expand our partnership, particularly in trade and investment, energy and mining, transport and logistics, food security, financial services, tourism, and digital technologies and artificial intelligence.Kazakhstan’s strategic position in Central Asia and Oman’s location at the crossroads of major maritime trade routes provide a natural basis for greater connectivity between our two countries and our wider regions.We believe there is significant potential to further develop and expand new trade and transport links and to make greater use of Oman’s ports as gateways to key markets in the Gulf, Asia and Africa.I am also pleased that this visit will witness the conclusion of a number of agreements and memorandum of understandings that will provide further substance to our cooperation and create new opportunities for our institutions and private sectors.Beyond our bilateral relationship, Oman and Kazakhstan share a commitment to dialogue, peaceful engagement and respect for international law.At a time of considerable regional and international uncertainty, these principles remain essential to promoting stability, security and prosperity.I wish to express my sincere appreciation to President Tokayev and the Government and people of Kazakhstan for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.Thank you”.Thereafter, His Majesty the Sultan and the President of Kazakhstan chaired an expanded official session of talks, attended by the two official delegations from both sides.The session commenced with an address delivered by the President of Kazakhstan, in which he affirmed the importance of the relations between the two friendly countries and the progress witnessed in the spheres of cooperation and partnership between them.He expressed his immense pleasure and profound honour at hosting His Majesty the Sultan, affirming that this visit is of historic significance, as it opens the door to multifaceted cooperation between the two countries — a cooperation that requires consolidation and strengthening.He added that his country places great hopes upon this visit, noting that there are numerous matters that can be discussed, in accordance with what has been agreed upon, alongside the vast potential for joint cooperation between the two countries, which ought to be harnessed and developed.He made clear that the two countries share many commonalities, foremost among them the shared desire and will to press ahead with strengthening cooperation across various fields. He affirmed that, as President of Kazakhstan, he shall exert his utmost endeavour to ensure that his country becomes a reliable partner for the Sultanate of Oman.He noted that the Sultanate of Oman enjoys great respect in Kazakhstan, pointing to the growing numbers of people currently travelling to the Sultanate of Oman, at a time when many have yet to have the opportunity to visit Muscat and other Omani cities.The President of Kazakhstan affirmed that, with the commencement of direct commercial flights between the two countries, the movement of visits and travel between them will become more vibrant, anticipating that the number of visitors to the Sultanate of Oman will increase significantly.This was followed by the address of His Majesty the Sultan, the text of which follows:“Your Excellency President Kassym - Jomart Tokayev,Allow me to thank you for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation.Oman attaches great importance to this relation with Kazakhstan. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, our two countries have developed a strong relationship founded on friendship, mutual respect and a shared commitment to constructive engagement.Today, we have an opportunity to build upon these strong foundations and move towards a more strategic and results-oriented partnership.We welcome the momentum that our bilateral relations have gained in recent years. The exchange of high-level visits, the work of the Oman–Kazakhstan Joint Committee, and the implementation of the 2025–2026 Roadmap have established a solid framework from which we can pursue more ambitious areas of cooperation.As we move forward, economic and investment cooperation must remain a defining feature of this next chapter. By strengthening these ties, we can unlock new opportunities for mutual benefit and long-term partnership.Oman sees significant opportunities for growth, investment and cooperation with Kazakhstan across a wide range of sectors, including energy and mining, agriculture and food security, transport and logistics, financial services, tourism, technology and artificial intelligence.We welcome the development of projects that bring together our sovereign investment institutions, private sectors and specialised government entities.Connectivity is another area of considerable strategic importance. Kazakhstan occupies a strategic position along major global trade corridors connecting Asia and Europe, while Oman provides direct maritime access to key markets across the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, Asia and Africa. Building on these complementary strengths could unlock significant opportunities for growth and create greater value for both countries.We therefore look forward to advancing cooperation in transport and logistics, including the development of trade corridors through Omani ports, as well as strengthening air connectivity between our two sides.Looking ahead, the financial sector presents promising opportunities for further cooperation. As Oman develops the Oman International Financial Centre, we see valuable opportunities for exchanging expertise and developing institutional partnerships.Similarly, Kazakhstan’s progress in digital transformation and artificial intelligence offers an important area for future cooperation. We would greatly welcome the opportunity to deepen engagement and strengthen cooperation between our technology institutions, innovation hubs and private-sector companies.Your Excellency,The agreements and memorandum of understandings being advanced during this visit reflect our determination to translate the strong political relationship between our countries into tangible economic and institutional outcomes.As we move forward with this shared vision, allow me to conclude by reaffirming my deep appreciation for the enduring friendship between the Sultanate of Oman and Kazakhstan. I look forward to the privilege of welcoming Your Excellency to Muscat soon and to continuing our collaborative efforts in the months and years ahead.Thank you, Mr. President”.The session of talks addressed the prospects of partnership between the two countries and the means of harnessing the available potential to expand cooperation in the fields of energy, mining, transport, logistics, food security, tourism, technology, artificial intelligence and financial and investment services.It also touched upon a set of issues and developments on the regional and international arenas. The two sides exchanged views thereon within the framework of the two countries' keenness on consultation and the coordination of positions that would consolidate security and peace in the region.Attending the official session of talks from the Omani side were HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; Lt.Gen Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance; Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority; Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Salim Jaaboub, the Sultanate of Oman's Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan.The session was attended from the Kazakh side by Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy; Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development; Roman Sklyar, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Aida Balayeva, Deputy Chair of the Security Council; Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna Joint Stock Company; Aidarbek Tumatov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan accredited to the Sultanate of Oman and a number of officials. -ONA