ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz at the Akorda presidential residence on Wednesday, describing Turkey as a strategic partner bound by nearly 35 years of diplomatic relations that have reached a new qualitative level of depth and institutionalization.
"There are no contradictions or disagreements between Kazakhstan and Türkiye," Tokayev told Yılmaz, marking the Turkish vice president's first visit to the Kazakh capital. The Kazakh leader said he looked forward to welcoming President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a state visit on May 14, during which the two governments will convene their Strategic Cooperation Council and sign several new intergovernmental agreements.
Intergovernmental Commission Clears Path for High-Level Agreements
Yılmaz arrived in Astana after co-chairing the 14th session of the Kazakhstan-Turkey Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation alongside Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The session produced a joint action plan outlining specific cooperation measures across seven identified sectors, which Yılmaz described as a concrete roadmap for bilateral economic relations through the coming period.
According to Yılmaz, the Turkish president attaches special importance to the May visit, which also includes participation in an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkistan. The OTS gathering brings together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, providing a multilateral venue for advancing regional integration projects aligned with Turkic cultural and linguistic kinship.
Sectoral Scope: Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, Logistics, Agriculture, Education, Tourism
Discussions between Tokayev and Yılmaz identified a broad spectrum of joint project opportunities spanning manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, logistics, agriculture, education, and tourism. Neither side disclosed specific project names or investment volumes pending finalization during the May visit, but officials described the joint action plan as containing quantified targets for bilateral cooperation expansion in each sector.
Kazakhstan and Turkey have historically maintained active construction and engineering partnerships, with Turkish firms participating in infrastructure projects across Central Asia. The expanded sectoral list signals interest in moving beyond traditional cooperation into broader industrial cooperation including manufacturing joint ventures and logistics corridor development.
Bilateral Trade Reaches $3.9 Billion, Exports Surge 17 Percent
By late 2025, total bilateral trade between the two countries had grown 9 percent year-on-year, while Kazakh exports to Turkey surged more than 17 percent, reaching a value of $3.9 billion. The trade figures represent a sustained upward trajectory that both governments cited as evidence of deepening economic integration.
Tokayev expressed gratitude to the Turkish leadership for the unwavering support provided during Kazakhstan's constitutional referendum, specifically acknowledging the significant role played by Turkish observers in the electoral process. Yılmaz conveyed warm wishes from Erdoğan and praised Kazakhstan's continued prosperity under Tokayev's leadership.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the current international agenda, with particular attention to developments in the Middle East. Tokayev reaffirmed Turkey's constructive contribution to regional stability. The Kazakh president also confirmed his participation in the forthcoming Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where both leaders are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the forum's margins.