Minister of External Affairs signs MoU on Consultations with Minister of Kazakhstan
24th-25th May 2012
Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris visited Kazakhstan during 24 – 25 May on the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Hon. Yerzhan Kazykhanov. Minister Kazykhanov welcomed Minister Peiris to Kazakhstan and commented on the historic nature of this visit which took place on the verge of 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.
Recalling the bilateral meeting between Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the 15th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Minister Kazykhanov emphasized the need for further meetings at the highest level between the two countries. The Kazakhstan Foreign Minister also referred to the MoU on Consultations which was to be signed following the discussion between the two Foreign Ministers, noting that it would pave the way for Political Consultations between the two foreign ministries.
Minister Peiris mentioned that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992 no visits were taken place to Kazakhstan and recalled the warm and cordial meeting between the two presidents on 18th June 2011 in St. Petersburg.
Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka took the opportunity to brief Minister Kazykhanov regarding political situation in Sri Lanka and the structural programs being implemented by the government aimed at national reconciliation and a long lasting political solution. He explained that Sri Lanka has come through turbulence to stability which the country presently enjoys and invited Minister Kazykhanov to visit Sri Lanka and witness the development in Sri Lanka.
Both Ministers agreed that Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan should move towards strengthening ties in economic and trade spheres as well as to start processing of the pending bilateral agreements. Speaking of the need to enhance trader volume between the two countries, Minister Peiris mentioned the high quality apparel products of Sri Lanka which could be aimed at niche markets and also referred to Sri Lankan (Ceylon) Tea, Cinnamon, Gem and Jewellery and high quality ceramic products of Sri Lanka as being amongst the potential exports to Kazakhstan. While noting the visible growth in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka Minister Peiris proposed establishing air connection between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan to promote greater people to people contact between the two countries.
On Regional and multilateral cooperation the two sides agreed to continue to work closely together. Minister Kazykhanov commended Sri Lanka’s leadership role in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue and speaking of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), it was noted Kazakhstan will fully support Sri Lanka in the SCO and that it will be Sri Lanka’s advocate.
Signing of the MoU on Consultations between Ministry of External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place following the bilateral meeting. Minister Peiris signed the MoU on behalf of the Sri Lankan party while Minister Kazykhanov signed on behalf of the Kazakhstan party. Thereafter a joint press conference took place with the participation of the two Ministers.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation concurrently accredited to Kazakhstan H.E. Udayanga Weeratunga, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka Madam Kshenuka Senewiratne, and First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka joined Minister Peiris during the discussions.
