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On 15-16 April Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas paid an official visit to Kazakhstan.

In Astana Minister P.Vaitiekūnas was received by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Masimov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin.

The Head of Lithuanian diplomacy indicated that Kazakhstan was certainly the leader in the region, successfully solving issues of economic and political development.

“I believe that our countries shall enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and Kazakhstan shall play a major role as Lithuania’s economic partner in Central Asia,” said Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Officials of Kazakhstan emphasized that successful integration into the European Union helped Lithuania to become the leader in the region. Lithuanian experience, according to Minister M. Tazhin, is especially important for preparation of the EU strategy for relations with countries of Central Asia. Kazakhstan is interested to develop the cooperation with the EU making use of the experience of Lithuanian experts and expects Lithuania to play an important role.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs M.Tazhin indicated that this visit would give an impetus to the development of bilateral relations.

The Head of diplomacy of Kazakhstan thanked Lithuania for supporting Kazakhstan’s striving to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and guaranteed support to Lithuania’s aspiration to chair the OSCE in 2010.

During the meetings with officials of Kazakhstan issues of closer cooperation in the areas of economy, transport, energy, agriculture and infrastructure development were also discussed.

President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev conveyed compliments to President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.

This year the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan is going to pay a visit to Vilnius to celebrate the 15th anniversary of restoration of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Kazakhstan. Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas invited Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs M.Tazhin to visit Lithuania.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas extended invitation to officials of Kazakhstan to participate in a high-level meeting on energy issues organized in Vilnius this autumn, which will be attended by representatives from Northern and Central Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asian countries.

The decision was made to restore the activity of Lithuanian-Kazakh intergovernmental commission and organize a meeting already this year.

In Astana, during the Business Forum of Lithuania and Kazakhstan Minister P.Vaitiekūnas welcomed the intensifying trade relations between the countries and invited Kazakhstan‘s businessmen to take a more active part in the EU market.

“Kazakhstan’s business road to the European Union’s market would be the shortest via Lithuania,” said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

In 2006 Lithuanian export to Kazakhstan amounted to 593.96 m Lt. Compared to 2005, Lithuanian export to Kazakhstan increased almost twice. In 2006, Lithuanian import from Kazakhstan comprised 136.97 million Lt. Compared to 2005, Lithuanian import from Kazakhstan increased by 57 percent. In 2006 the turnover of Lithuanian trade with Kazakhstan amounted to 730.93 million Lt. The trade balance is positive: 456.99 million Lt.

On 15 April Minister P.Vaitiekūnas met with Lithuanian community in Kazakhstan and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Alma-Ata Audrius Jozėnas. Minister thanked Lithuanians from Alma-Ata and Karaganda for maintaining relations with Lithuania. Members of Lithuanian community were interested in work and study opportunities in Lithuania.