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Kazakh deputy prime minister in Bucharest: Romania is a top partner in terms of investments, trade
Romania represents a "top partner" of Kazakhstan in terms of investments and trade, the minister of Foreign Affairs of this country, deputy prime minister Murat Nurtleu, declared on Tuesday, during a press statement held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
According to him, the discussions with the minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, were "significant" and "substantial", practical steps being identified in order to strengthen relations in the political, economic, scientific and cultural fields.
"Our countries have developed a very good tradition of mutual support, as well as effective collaboration within the UN and within the OECD. When it comes to the European Union, we look forward to continuing our joint work in implementing the objectives we have and which are included in the extended partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU and the European strategy for the South Caucasus. We are committed to expanding the Kazakh-Romanian partnership. (...) Today, Romania is one of the top investment and trade partners in Kazakhstan - fifth in the EU and number 12 globally," he said.
Murat Nurtleu specified that, in the last ten months, bilateral trade increased by 9.5% and exceeded 2.3 billion dollars, under the conditions in which 97% of commercial exchanges concern oil refineries. Exports of goods to Romania represented 500 million dollars.
"Goods such as nuclear energy, chemical products, food products, mechanical engineering and construction have a very high potential. In addition, we offer the Romanian business community opportunities for transit and logistics and technological and material modernization in Kazakhstan," the minister said.
Imports from Kazakhstan to Romania reached 37% of the consumption of Romanian refineries.
"We are committed to maintaining this level, as strategic and investment partners. Exports from Kazakhstan represent 10% of Romania's imports in terms of energy and we thus contribute to the energy security, not only of Europe, but also of Romania," he stated.
"We will focus on transport and other areas, especially we want to work together on the Trans-Caspian transport road, also known as the median corridor to the Caspian Sea. (...) We want to integrate our logistics and infrastructure to serve the interests of Kazakhstan and Romania. Our seaport and the port of Constanta are the best examples of such cooperation. We expect the 17th meeting of the inter-governmental committee in Bucharest to give even more impetus to the implementation of many promising projects," he stated.
In turn, Romanian Foreign affairs minister, Luminita Odobescu, underlined on Tuesday at a meeting with the foreign minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, deputy prime minister Murat Nurtleu, who is visiting Romania, the importance of Kazakhstan in terms of its contribution to Europe's energy security and its geo-strategic relevance for the transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia.
"During today's discussions we reconfirmed our support for a faster development of an international transport route between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. This route will allow a greater flow of goods and services between Europe and Asia via the South Caucasus and Central Asia, transforming our Black Sea and Caspian Sea ports into important hubs between East and West," Odobescu said.
The talks were aimed at "actively strengthening" bilateral dialogue and deepening cooperation in areas such as transport and energy.
"We agreed to maintain this positive momentum and further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of special importance, such as transport and energy. Our joint commitment is reflected in the joint declaration we signed today on our expanded dialogue and cooperation," said the Romanian foreign minister.
Luminita Odobescu reiterated Romania's "clear position regarding the war of aggression" of the Russian Federation and our country's "firm and multidimensional support" towards Ukraine.