Belgian King Wraps Up State Visit to Kazakhstan as Foreign Ministries Sign 2027–2029 Roadmap
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians paid a state visit to Kazakhstan on October 11–14, the first state visit by a Belgian monarch to Kazakhstan and to Central Asia. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with King Philippe on the state and prospects of bilateral relations and on regional and international issues, Qazinform news agency reported.
During the visit, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev and Theodora Gentzis, chair of the management committee of Belgium's foreign affairs service, signed a Roadmap for Cooperation for 2027–2029 aimed at intensifying political dialogue, regular consultations and interministerial contacts. The two sides also discussed Kazakhstan's cooperation with the European Union, including prospects for visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The year 2027 will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Education and industry featured prominently. On October 13, Tokayev and the royal couple attended a Rectors' Forum at the Alem.ai International Centre in Astana on the impact of super intelligence on education and research, after which universities from both countries signed agreements and memorandums. The same day, Nazarbayev University hosted a high-level roundtable on critical minerals attended by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and companies including Kazatomprom and Eurasian Resources Group. Tokayev said Belgium ranks among the top 10 largest investors in Kazakhstan's economy. The Belgian delegation numbered 110 people, including 25 chief executives and 10 university rectors.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：比利时国王菲利普出席公开活动（资料图）。摄影：Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024，CC BY 2.0 授权，来源：Wikimedia Commons
