Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

For the export of domestic goods to the markets of the Persian Gulf countries, Kazakhstan will build two logistics centers in the ports of Iran.

This was announced at a meeting of the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi with the Minister of Transport and Urban Planning of Iran, Mohammed Islami, and the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Jihad Iazdan Seif, reports Kapital.kz

For the construction of logistics centers, Iran will provide land in the ports of Bandar Abbas and Amirabad.

Kazakh-Iranian political consultations were held in the capital of Iran. The meetings were held within the framework of the implementation of the Five-year program of cooperation between the foreign affairs agencies of the two countries.

The sides discussed the state and prospects of trade and economic cooperation, in particular, the development of transit transport potential, agricultural exports to Iran.

Tleuberdi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the new president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the upcoming early presidential elections.

The Kazakh diplomat noted that, despite changes in the country's leadership, the state’s foreign policy will remain unchanged. He stressed the development of good-neighborly relations with Iran is one of the priorities in the foreign policy of Kazakhstan.

The sides noted positive dynamics of bilateral interaction in transit-transport and agricultural spheres and emphasized the importance of enhancing the use of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route with further access to the Persian Gulf.

A summit of leaders of the Caspian states was held in Aktau on August 12, 2018. One of the main results of the forum was the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.

According to the Convention, the main area of ​​the Caspian water surface remains in the common use of the parties, and the bottom and subsoil are divided by neighboring states into areas by agreement between them based on international law. Shipping, fishing, research and construction of trunk pipelines are carried out according to the rules agreed by the parties. When implementing large-scale offshore projects, the environmental factor is mandatory taken into account.

The Convention fixes a provision on the prevention of the presence of armed forces of non-regional powers in the Caspian Sea, defines five Caspian states responsible for maintaining maritime security and managing its resources.

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Iran were established on January 29, 1992.

Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Iran amounted to $ 516.309 million (exports - $426,768 million, imports - $89,541 million) in 2018.

Kazakhstan supplied barley, wheat, rolled iron, meat, sunflower seeds and rapeseed to Iran.

Kazakhstan imported pistachios, dates, apples, plastics, tableware and meat processing equipment from Iran.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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