Thanks to its culture, history and traditions, Kazakhstan may bridge Europe and Asia: Dieter Boden

The event brought together eminent public figures, businessmen and experts from the EU member countries and Kazakhstan.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Germany Nurlan Onzhanov noted 'successful functioning of the club rests upon an open and lively dialogue and strive to achieve certain results facilitating modernization of Kazakhstan and the region on the whole, enhancing competitiveness in the international arena and overall development of the bilateral relations.'

"I am quite sure with the constructive support of our German and European partners - politicians, entrepreneurs and experts, the BEC can become a unique mechanism of mutually profitable cooperation and it can greatly contribute to the inter-regional dialogue," he added.

In his turn, Gunnar Wiegand, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation & OSCE of the European External Action Service, told about the main directions and achievements of the EU Central Asia Strategy. According to him, among all five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan and the EU pride on having the most developed relations. In addition, he mentioned the steps that had already been taken within the State Program 'Path to Europe' and created the foundation for further extended cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan.

"We are ready to promote the development of this process and deepen our ties, especially the economic ones, within the framework of the new agreement between the EU and the Republic of Kazakhstan. We regard Kazakhstan as an important commercial and economic partner. We are aware it [Kazakhstan] possesses enormous economic potential and it is necessary to make efforts to fulfill the tasks on development of these relations," Gunnar Wiegand said.

Kazakh majilisman Rakhmet Mukashev stressed 'Kazakhstan is the only country in the region that has entered a brand new stage of dialogue with the European Union due to its role of a generator of stability in Central Asia.'

According to prominent German politician Dieter Boden, 'Kazakhstan, thanks to its culture, history, and traditions, can easily become a bridge between Asia and Europe.'

During the BEC session in Brussels Kazakhstani and European experts also exchanged their views on further development of relations in various spheres, especially in the light of the new agreement on extended partnership and cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan.

All participants of the event emphasized the results-oriented implementation of the State Program 'Path to Europe' and the EU Central Asia Strategy added new momentum to the bilateral and inter-regional relations. Kazakhstan's role as a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia is constantly growing.

The Berlin Eurasian Club was opened on 7 February 2012 with the participation of Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The first seating of the club was held on 24 March 2012 in Berlin, the second - on 27 September 2012 in Astana.