Armenia plays a special role for Kazakhstan in the CIS and the South Caucasus. This was announced by Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu at Monday’s press conference in Yerevan with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

Emphasizing the friendly nature of relations, the Kazakh FM reminded that the 25th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation agreement will be celebrated in September. He informed that the parties are discussing the creation of a business council, and Kazakhstan is open for investments.

The minister assessed the dialogue held within the framework of his visit to Armenia as meaningful and constructive, and said regional and international matters were discussed. The positions of the two countries are close and coincide in a number of matters, the Kazakh official noted, documenting the importance of peace and stability both in Central Asia and in the South Caucasus.

Also, Nurtleu noted the cooperation in such important international platforms as the UN, CIS, EAEU, and CSTO.

However, the Kazakh FM expressed dissatisfaction with the low level of trade, which does not correspond to the possibilities. In this regard, he informed that Kazakhstan can increase the export of non-raw materials to Armenia by 70 percent.

"More than 100 companies with Kazakh capital, 435 Armenian companies, 76—with mixed capital—operate in Armenia. We are opening new flights," continued the minister.

He recalled that more than 25 thousand Armenians live in Kazakhstan, and the latter’s Armenian community plays the role of a “golden bridge” between the two countries, 55 Kazakh citizens study in Armenia, but two times less Armenian citizens study in Kazakhstan. The numbers are small, but Kazakhstan is ready to increase them, the minister promised.

Recapping the results of his meeting with the Armenian FM, Murat Nurtleu noted that a tangible step has been taken, which can give impetus to the development of cooperation, and expressed confidence that the agreements reached will be implemented. In the end, he wished peace and prosperity to the Armenian people.