Kazakhstan and Turkey signed a Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Expanded Strategic Partnership during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's state visit to Astana on Thursday, as the two countries set a bilateral trade target of €13 billion and deepened cooperation across the defence, energy, transport and digital sectors.
Kazakhstan has pursued what it describes as a multi-vector foreign policy, balancing relations with Russia, China, the West and Turkey simultaneously.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set the tone of the talks, describing Turkey as a "golden bridge" connecting Europe and Asia.
"Thanks to your balanced and far-sighted policy, Ankara's influence on the global stage continues to grow steadily," Tokayev said.
Turkey, with its strong economy and respected diplomacy, is recognised as a 'golden bridge' connecting Europe and Asia, as well as the entire Turkic world," Tokayev added.
