Kazakhstan intends to promote its interests in remotest corners of the world: Foreign Minister

Kazakhstan intends to promote its interests even in remotest corners of the word, Newskaz.ru reports, citing the country’s Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov as saying. “In line with the new concept of foreign policy for 2014-2020, Kazakhstan seeks to expand its presence abroad”, he said in an interview published in Kazakhstanskaya Pravda daily on Friday. According to him, this task was too unfeasible in the first years since gaining independence, with more acute issues dominating the agenda. “Today with Kazakhstan turning into a stable and dynamically developing nation cherishing some ambitious goals to reach before 2050, there are all prerequisites for a more large-scaled and ambitious foreign policy”, the Minister believes. Since gaining independence Kazakhstan has been emphasizing its ties with Russia, China, Central Asia, Europe and CIS. “The new concept seeks expansion of the traditional specter of vectors”, Mr. Idrissov said. Notably, plans are there to strengthen ties with Asia. “We will be primarily interacting in technology and trade and economic realms”, he elaborated. “As a neighboring state [of Afghanistan], Kazakhstan is interested in Afghanistan’s sustainable development and is willing to contribute to social and economic rehabilitation of this nation (...) Kazakhstan’s growing authority and economic capabilities have laid foundations for expanding cooperation with Africa, Central and Latin America”, he said. According to him, opening of the Kazakhstan’s embassy in the South African Republic, “the gates to the African continent” in November 2013 is of paramount importance. This year Kazakhstan plans to open its embassies in Ethiopia and Mexico. The country’s Embassy in Brazil was opened in 2012.