Based on recent developments, including the first-ever Belgian royal state visit to Kazakhstan, high-level talks between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Philippe on expanding bilateral cooperation, and growing opportunities for joint investment in critical minerals, industrial processing and the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, Qazinform News Agency presents a special review of foreign media coverage of the historic visit.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are making the first-ever Belgian state visit to Central Asia, travelling to Kazakhstan from Sunday to Wednesday to strengthen economic, academic and cultural cooperation, The Brussels Times reports. The royal couple will visit Astana and Almaty, with King Philippe scheduled to meet President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The delegation includes government officials, around 25 business executives and 11 academic representatives, including seven university rectors. King Philippe previously visited Kazakhstan three times as Crown Prince, including trips to Baikonur for Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne’s space missions in 2002 and 2009, and an economic mission in 2010.
The visit will also feature the fourth Kazakh- Belgian Business Council meeting, focusing on logistics, agriculture and investment opportunities. Discussions are expected to cover the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, which connects European and Asian markets. Belgium ’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are visiting Kazakhstan from October 11 to 14, accompanied by a 110-member delegation to strengthen economic, technological and academic cooperation, Eualive reports.
The first Belgian state visit to Central Asia will focus on critical minerals, transport, healthcare and artificial intelligence. The two countries are also expected to sign a cooperation roadmap for 2026-2029. Bilateral trade reached $582.4 million in 2025, while Belgian foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan exceeded $14 billion between 2005 and 2025.
“Kazakhstan can offer Belgian businesses an integrated platform for industrial production, logistics and access to the wider Eurasian market,” said Alisher Abdreshev, an expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies. The visit is also expected to advance cooperation in the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, industrial processing and university research, including partnerships with KU Leuven and Ghent University.
According to New My Royals, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will undertake a state visit to Kazakhstan from October 12 to 14, 2026.