At the international-scientific-practical conference “The Republic of Kazakhstan and the Eurasian space: the present and the future development” dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan Paulo Botta, the representative of one of Latin American countries Argentina, Head of the Department of Eurasian Studies at the University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, took the floor with the paper on the theme “Kazakhstan and Latin American countries” to shed the light to Argentina’s diplomatic initiative based on the example of Brazil appearing the pioneer in developing relationships with the Eurasian state.
“In Central Asia, and in Kazakhstan in particular, is noticed the growing interest in Latin America. They say in Argentina that it takes two to tango which means that the participation in any business two parts are obligatory. And now we are at important geopolitical moment. But why? Since the end of the Soviet Union when our countries established diplomatic relations for the first 20 years diplomatic contacts were more formal than nowadays.
In 2013 Kazakhstan became more and more interested in Latin America – the first image of this interest was the opening of Kazakh embassy to Brazil with the visit of foreign minister Erlan Idrisov. And Argentina and Brazil became interested back in Central Asia and Kazakhstan in turn. Brazil has also the Embassy in Kazakhstan. And Argentina is interested in doing the same during next couple of years. We have thought that according to foreign policy of Kazakhstan and Strategy 2050 Latin American countries are establishing interest in developing foreign policy and strategy of the country. According to this foreign policy priorities it says Cooperation with northern and southern American countries would be good priority for Kazakhstan”.
Today, one of the Latin Amercian countries Brazil has its representation in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Glancing back to the start of Brazilian and Kazakhastan Embassies functioning in both countries the following data can be presented.
August, 2006 - Opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Astana.
Since February, 2014 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brazil in Kazakhstan is Demetrio Bueno Carvalho.
October, 2012 - Opening of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Brasilia.
March 29, 2016 - Kairat Sarzhanov was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Brazil by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In addition, Brazil's embassy in Astana is the only Brazilian representation in Kazakhstan. The Brazilian embassy is one of 118 foreign representations in Kazakhstan, and one of 69 foreign representations in Astana, also is one of 334 Brazilian diplomatic and consular representations abroad. Similarly, Kazakhstan's embassy in Brasilia is the only Kazakh representation in Brazil.
The Kazakh embassy is one of 690 foreign representations in Brazil, one of 134 foreign representations in Brasilia, and one of 142 Kazakh diplomatic and consular representations abroad.
Cooperation Brazil and Kazakhstan touches upon various spheres, for instance, within the framework of international organizations. Kazakhstan supports Brazil’s candidacy in its bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Kazakhstan and Brazil have provided mutual support of each others’ candidacies to the UNHR Council in 2012-2015. And Astana supports the Brazilian side’s bid to obtain observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In terms of Trade and Economic Cooperation Kazakhstan is considering the Federal Republic of Brazil as an important and promising partner in Latin America. Brazil’s experience in the fields of high technology, machine building, light industry, agriculture is of great interest for Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, the bilateral trade turnover in 2015 amounted to 362.5 million dollars (Brazilian exports – 191.1 million USD., imports – 171.4 million dollars.) From January to June 2016 the trade turnover amounted to 90 million dollars (Brazilian exports – 77 million USD., imports - 11,3 million USD.,). The main items of Brazilian exports stand to be machinery and spare parts, tobacco products, meat and main items of imports are mineral fertilizers and agricultural raw materials.
Moreover, Brazil came out to prove its participation in EXPO 2017 themed Future Energy in Astana as one of increasingly interested in exhibition countries. Brazil actively uses “green” technologies on the energy production. Likewise, the country possesses the huge experience in the use of exploitation renewable sources of energy covering about 45% of energy and 18% of fuel.
By Malika MURSALIMOVA
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