Nazarbayev, Sarkozy adopt Joint Declaration in Paris

    By E. Ostapenko
    President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a working visit to Paris today.
    The two presidents are signed a joint declaration after the meeting, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported referring to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
    "The presidents of Kazakhstan and France are expected to adopt a joint declaration which will reflect the main results of the negotiations and the intent of both sides to continue to develop overall cooperation," Novosti-Kazakhstan quoted the Official Spokesperson for the MFA, Askar Abdrakhmanov as saying.
    According to Abdrakhmanov, Nazarbayev and Sarkozy would discuss the performance of the Nazarbayev-Sarkozy Presidential Commission, as well as global and regional issues.
    Political relations between France and Kazakhstan were established after the latter’s independence, and have intensified over the past decade.
    President Nazarbayev has paid several visits to France since 1992.
    France has increased its presence in Kazakhstan since 2008. The consulate in Almaty became a Consulate General in 2010.
    The French economic mission is represented in Astana and Almaty.
    The two countries have a strategic partnership treaty, several intergovernmental agreements and trade agreements, Trend states.