Bilateral Relations between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia was among the first Arab and Muslim countries which recognized Kazakhstan’s Independence on 30 December 1991.
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia were established on 30 April 1994. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Riyadh was opened on 13 December 1995, and since 28 December 2007 the Consulate of Kazakhstan has been functioning in Jeddah, which received the status of Consulate General from 5 August 2019.
H.E. Mr. Berik Aryn has been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since March 2019.
H.E. Mr. Talgat Shaldanbay has been the Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Jeddah since July 2017.
The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Kazakhstan has been functioning since March 1997. Since February 2020 – the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Kazakhstan is H.E. Mr. Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Daoud.
In September 1994, the first official visit of the President of the RK Nursultan Nazarbayev to the Kingdom took place, which laid the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and defined the prospects for the development of multifaceted relations. Following the negotiations, the General Agreement on Cooperation in trade, economic, investment, technical and cultural areas, as well as in the field of sports and youth affairs was signed.
Further strengthening of friendly relations was promoted by the visit to Kazakhstan in 2000 of the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation, Inspector General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.
In March 2004 the second official visit of the President of RK N.A.Nazarbayev to Saudi Arabia took place. During the visit, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (King of Saudi Arabia in the period 2005 – 2015) was awarded the Order “Dostyk” 1st degree for his contribution to the development of comprehensive ties between the two countries. In his turn, Crown Prince Abdallah presented the President of Kazakhstan with the highest award of the Kingdom – the Order “Great Badr”.
On April 14, 2015, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz on the margins of the XIII OIC Summit in Istanbul. In the course of the meeting, the leaders of the two countries discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in trade and economic, investment, scientific-technical and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
On September 4-5, 2016 in Beijing, President Nazarbayev met with Deputy Prime Minister of KSA, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the fields of the G20.
October 24-25, 2016 the third official visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Saudi Arabia, during which he held talks with King Salman. The leaders of the two countries discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in trade and economic, political, cultural and humanitarian spheres. A number of important agreements on legal assistance, nuclear energy and agriculture were signed during the visit.
On May 21, 2017 in Riyadh President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the summit “USA – Arab and Islamic world”, in the framework of which he held a number of meetings with heads of states and delegations.
On March 30, 2019, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz held a telephone conversation with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques congratulated the Head of Kazakhstan on his assumption of office and wished him success in his highest state post. In his turn, K.Tokayev noted the huge contribution of the First President Nursultan Nazabayev to the development of cooperation with Saudi Arabia and assured that he would continue the course of strengthening mutually beneficial relations.
Over the past period, the two countries have carried out 85 mutual visits. Among them 28 visits at the ministerial level, 16 at the level of deputy ministers, 10 at the parliamentary line and 31 at other levels.

In the economic matter, the two sides praised the development of economic and investment relations between the two countries, and agreed to work to strengthen the economic and trade partnership between them by achieving integration between the available opportunities, and exploring and developing investment fields in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Kazakhstan 2050. The two sides also noted the existing cooperation. Through the Saudi-Kazakh joint committee.

The two sides praised the positive results of the Saudi-Kazakh round table forum, which was held during the visit, during which a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between the private sector from both sides, as well as the conclusion of commercial deals between the private sector in the sectors of energy, food and medicine.

The two sides also welcomed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of cooperation between the governments of the two brotherly countries in the fields of sports, media, medicine, and cooperation in the financial sector. The two sides agreed to expedite the approval of the investment protection and encouragement agreement. Because of its positive impact on enhancing investment exchange between the two countries through qualitative projects in vital sectors important to both sides, and to create a safe investment environment for investors from both countries.
The two sides praised the volume of cooperation between the Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia and “Kazakh Invest”, which represents the investment sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan. To find promising investment opportunities for investors from the two countries, and they affirmed their intention to continue working; To enable partnership between the private sectors of the two countries and to encourage and enhance mutual investments in a number of targeted sectors, including sectors: petrochemicals, renewable energy, industry, mining, agriculture, tourism, transport and logistics, cooperation in the fields of innovation and information technology, and digital transformation, Financial services, space, and all other fields that contribute to achieving the development goals of the two countries. As well as expanding the scope of cooperation between the two countries to include a number of other fields, including joint work to achieve integration in supply chains and food security by securing an abundance of the most important basic foodstuffs, and through quantitative and qualitative Saudi investments in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The two sides affirmed their desire to enhance trade and tourism exchange by providing direct flights and finding multiple shipping lines. The Saudi side praised the Kazakh side’s decision to exclude Saudi citizens from the visit visa. The two sides stressed the importance of discussing ways to activate joint cooperation between the two countries and exchange experiences in the air transport sectors, in order to achieve the common interests of the two brotherly countries.
In the field of tourism, the two sides stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of tourism and the development of tourism movement in the two countries, and exploring the potentials of tourism in each country, in addition to promoting joint work in the field of sustainable tourism that benefits the tourism sector and its development.
In the field of education, the two sides agreed to raise the level of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of higher education, research and innovation, encourage direct cooperation between universities and scientific and educational institutions in the two countries, and take advantage of modern digital technologies to support the continuity of education in times of crisis and exchange expertise and experiences in this regard.
The two sides also agreed to enhance media cooperation between the two countries, discuss opportunities for developing cooperation in the fields of radio and television, news agencies, and the press, exchanging experiences and coordinating media visits, in a way that serves the development of joint media work.
In the field of climate change, the two sides stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and the need to develop and implement climate agreements by focusing on emissions without sources. The two sides also expressed their mutual support for the “Saudi Green” and “Green Middle East” initiatives launched by the Kingdom, and the “Green Partnership Program for the Green Bridge” in Kazakhstan, and the two sides expressed their aspiration to enhance cooperation in this field.
In the field of energy, the two countries praised the successful efforts of the OPEC Plus countries in promoting the stability of the global oil market. They also stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC Plus agreement, in a way that serves the interests of producers and consumers and supports the growth of the global economy. The two sides affirmed their mutual desire to cooperate in the fields of petrochemicals and innovative uses of hydrocarbons, the development of infrastructure for carbon circular economy applications, carbon capture, sequestration and use, and clean hydrogen. Energy and associated supply chains, as well as strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy efficiency.
In the defence and security issue, the two sides discussed the available opportunities in these two fields, in a way that serves and achieves the common interests of the two countries.
In the political matter, the two sides exchanged views on issues and issues of concern to the two countries on the regional and international arenas, and affirmed their determination to enhance cooperation and joint coordination towards them, and to continue their support for everything that would establish peace and stability in all parts of the world.