Singapore, May 25(AseanAll)  — The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Singapore on May 22-24, 2024, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Tokayev received a ceremonial welcome and called on Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana on May 23.  Tokayev met separately with Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, who also hosted lunch.  He also was hosted by Tharman at the State Banquet on the evening of May 23.

Tharman and Tokayev reaffirmed the warm ties between Singapore and Kazakhstan underpinned by good personal ties between the leaders.  As strategic hubs in their respective regions, Singapore and Kazakhstan can work together for mutual benefit.  

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Both Presidents welcomed stronger connectivity and people-to-people ties, including through education, cultural exchanges and tourism.  Tharman looked forward to Kazakhstan’s impending ratification of the bilateral Services and Investment Agreement under the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which would help spur greater economic engagements between the two countries.   

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Singaporean Prime Minister Wong and Kazakh President Tokayev noted the growing partnership between Singapore and Kazakhstan since diplomatic ties were established in 1993.  They discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, including in areas such as education, food security, green energy and digitalisation.  Wong encouraged Kazakh companies to use Singapore as a gateway to engage Southeast Asia and vice versa.  

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Wong and Tokayev had a useful exchange of views on global and regional developments.  They welcomed Air Astana's plans to launch direct flights to Singapore.

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Wong and Tokayev welcomed the signing of six government-to-government agreements in the areas of economic cooperation, higher education, intellectual property rights protection, legal cooperation, security cooperation, and standards.  The list of agreements is at Annex.

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Kazakh President Tokayev officiated the closing of the Third Kazakhstan-Singapore Business Forum on the afternoon of May 23.

Photo source: the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan