ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ankara on Oct. 28 for an official visit to Türkiye, where he is scheduled to attend the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Tokayev at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
A guard of honor was lined up for the ceremony, and a mounted guard escorted the Kazakh president’s motorcade to the palace. The national anthems of Kazakhstan and Türkiye were played, accompanied by a 21-gun salute, reported Akorda. The presidents continued the meeting with members of their official delegations.
Tokayev congratulated Erdoğan and the Turkish people on the eve of Türkiye’s Republic Day, celebrated on Oct. 29, and highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation. He said Kazakhstan and Türkiye share historical and linguistic ties, as well as similar traditions, and described their political relations as founded on mutual trust and friendship.
“Türkiye is one of Kazakhstan’s five largest trading partners. In addition, the Turkish side ranks among the top 10 investors that have invested significant funds in our country’s economy,” Tokayev said. He also pointed to Erdoğan’s state visit to Kazakhstan in May, which he described as productive.
The visit resulted in agreements and the launch of projects in trade, investment, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The two countries also held the sixth meeting of their High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. According to Tokayev, bilateral relations have reached the level of eternal friendship and expanded strategic partnership.
“Developing our bilateral partnership serves our common interests,” he said, adding that his participation in the Turkic States summit and the upcoming COP31 climate conference in Antalya would provide further momentum for bilateral and multilateral ties. Erdoğan, in turn, congratulated Tokayev and the Kazakh people on Kazakhstan’s Republic Day, celebrated on Oct.
25. He noted that a book titled The Phenomenon of the Kurultai, dedicated to the history of Kazakh statehood, had recently been presented in Ankara. He also mentioned the Kazakh translation of Nauryz – Common Heritage of the Turkic World, a book examining the holiday’s history and significance.
Erdoğan said the two countries intend to follow up on agreements signed during his May visit to Astana, including the Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Expanded Strategic Partnership. “We intend to increase trade turnover to $15 billion and intensify the investment dimension of bilateral relations,” he said.