Vice Minister K. Vaitiekūnas in Astana: Kazakhstan is an Important Partner of Lithuania in Central Asia
On 13–14 October, Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, paid a working visit to Kazakhstan.
The main purpose of the visit was to hold political consultations between the Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Kazakhstan, Kristupas Vaitiekūnas and Arman Issetov. During the consultations, the parties discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and Kazakhstan, opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture and other areas, as well as the positions of Lithuania and Kazakhstan on current regional and international security issues. The importance of supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression and preventing the circumvention of international sanctions imposed on Russia was underlined.
Considerable attention was devoted to relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan, the reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan, the EU-Central Asia cooperation agenda, the development of regional connectivity and transport links, and common security challenges. The Vice Minister thanked Kazakhstan for its assistance in preserving the memory of Lithuanian political prisoners and deportees in the country.
“Kazakhstan is an important partner of Lithuania in Central Asia. We see potential for expanding cooperation in the fields of transport, logistics, energy, business and people-to-people contacts, while at the same time strengthening the dialogue between the European Union and Central Asia,” said K. Vaitiekūnas.
During the visit, Vice Minister Vaitiekūnas also met with representatives of other Kazakh state institutions to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation and Lithuania’s preparations for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027. The parties agreed to continue exploring opportunities to develop business ties and dialogue.
While in Astana, K. Vaitiekūnas also met with Lithuania’s Honorary Consuls in Kazakhstan and a business delegation organised by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists. They discussed the priorities of Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as the further development of economic and cultural cooperation between Lithuania and Kazakhstan.
Together with Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Trade and Integration, Asset Nusupov, Vice Minister Vaitiekūnas opened the Lithuania-Kazakhstan Business Forum, which brought together around 40 business representatives from both countries. He also visited the international exhibition TransLogistica Kazakhstan 2026 and the pavilions of Lithuanian companies participating in the event.
Lithuania and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992. In recent years, the two countries have maintained a regular political dialogue, while the deepening cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian region has contributed to closer ties and the further development of bilateral relations.
