Kazakh Sec of State met with Uri Rosenthal, the Netherlands Foreign Minister

At the negotiations they noted a high level of development and positive dynamics in bilateral cooperation in the trade-economic and political spheres.

As Uri Rosenthal outlined at a press conference, the Netherlands Government respects political and economic achievements of the country reached over 20 years of independence. "Hence the Netherlands supports Kazakhstan in the issue regarding its accession to the World Trade Organization," the Netherlands Minister said.

Besides, he noted special significance of our country in the world nuclear non-proliferation sphere, emphasizing that "consequences of the tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site show importance of entry into legal force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Only this can put an end to nuclear tests. Cooperation between the USA, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands on ensuring security of radioactive materials in the Republic of Kazakhstan is a good model of necessary measures. Together we can find ways of strengthening the global regime of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament," the Minister said.

The Kazakh Secretary of State, in his turn, noted that there is a good level of interaction of the two countries in the world nuclear non-proliferation, and an international conference "Nuclear Dilemmas: present and future", which was held at the Academy Hall of the Peace Palace, The Hague, demonstrates it.

K.Saudabayev and U.Rosenthal expressed hope that the upcoming visit of Willem-Alexander, Crown Prince of Orange in November 2011 will give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation. The Prince is expected to visit Astana and Baikonur.

At present, the Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan. Bilateral trade turnover in the first half of 2011 increased twofold against the similar period in 2010. In this connection the sides emphasized the importance of further improvement of the investment climate in our country for maintenance of positive dynamics in the inflow of foreign investment.

It was also noted that nuclear non-proliferation is one of the most promising areas of cooperation between the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.