Pretoria - South Africa and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed the need to strengthen their existing relations and further expand cooperation between the two countries.
The two agreed to advance the mechanisms and agreements that will support the further development of the bilateral relationship between them.
The mutual accord was reached during the first session of the South Africa-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Consultations in Pretoria on Tuesday, which was co-chaired by International Relations Deputy Minister Ismail Ebrahim and his counterpart, Kairat Sarybay.
Ebrahim said there was still a need to explore the possibilities for mutual trade and investment opportunities that were still far below potential.
He called on the Kazakhstan delegation to infuse their relations and build a strong working partnership in other areas such as trade relations, education, technology and mining.
The two countries, who already enjoy tight relations, are also working on a draft agreement to reciprocally waiver visa requirements for diplomatic and official passports. Ebrahim said this was intended to encourage official visits to each other's countries.
"We already cooperate in many areas and now after this meeting, we have worked out how to intensify that joint cooperation, not just bilaterally but in terms of other countries," said Ebrahim.
Sarybay said there were advanced trade opportunities between the two countries, adding that he was determined to enhance high-level political engagements with Kazakhstan's most important economic partner in Africa.
Sarybay described the visit as a fresh start to enhancing good working and productive relations between the two countries, and described the meeting as "fruitful".
