On July 8-10, Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov paid an official visit to the United States and held meetings with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy National Security Adviser Anthony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, and Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. In his talks with high ranking U.S. officials the two sides highlighted the robust and growing bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and the United States and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the strategic partnership. 

1. Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue
Minister Erlan Idrissov's Visit to
Washington, DC July 2013

2. Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue
On July 8-10, Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov paid an
official visit to the United States and held meetings with Secretary of
Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, National
Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy National Security Adviser
Anthony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, and
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. In his talks with high
ranking U.S. officials the two sides highlighted the robust and
growing bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and the United States
and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the strategic
partnership.
It was agreed that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov will co-chair the
Strategic Partnership Dialogue.

3. Strategic Partnership Dialogue
Its second meeting was held on July 9, 2013. During the meeting the
two sides recognized the progress that has been made in the
bilateral relationship since the inaugural Strategic Partnership
Dialogue in Washington on April 9-10, 2012. The wide-ranging
discussions on bilateral and regional issues in the Strategic
Partnership Dialogue included the following:

4. Afghanistan and Regional Integration:
The United States welcomes Kazakhstan’s leadership role in
supporting security in Afghanistan and the region, including through
its assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces and
contribution to the Istanbul Process. The United States values
Kazakhstan’s $50 million scholarship program to educate one
thousand Afghan students in Kazakhstan’s universities. The United
States welcomes Kazakhstan’s economic connectivity efforts, in
particular, its investments in regional infrastructure such as the
Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan railroad and the Caspian seaport of
Aktau. The United States and Kazakhstan will continue to work
closely together to support stability, peace, and prosperity in
Afghanistan and the region.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

5. Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation:
The United States and Kazakhstan reaffirm their shared commitment to
prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Threat
reduction and nonproliferation remain a cornerstone of our joint
efforts to ensure global and regional security. The United States
welcomes Kazakhstan’s efforts to establish a regional Nuclear
Security Training Center in Kazakhstan. The United States
continues to support Kazakhstan’s offer to host an IAEA Low-
Enriched Uranium Bank.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

6. Security Cooperation:
The United States and Kazakhstan affirm their continued collaboration
in support of stability in the region, including through our joint efforts
on counterterrorism. Our commitment to security cooperation is
demonstrated by activities such as U.S. support for Kazakhstan’s
peacekeeping brigade and the annual military exercise Steppe
Eagle.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

7. Democracy and Development:
The United States and Kazakhstan reaffirm the importance of
democratic development and efforts to strengthen representative
institutions such as an independent media and local self-
government. Both sides acknowledged the importance of a vibrant
and varied civil society during the Strategic Partnership Dialogue
roundtable on governance and human rights with non-governmental
organizations. The United States welcomes Kazakhstan’s efforts to
establish a national development assistance agency, KazAID.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

8. Trade, Investment, and Energy:
The United States reaffirms its support for Kazakhstan’s membership in
the World Trade Organization and will continue to work with
Kazakhstan to complete its accession process as soon as possible.
The United States places high importance on the intensification of
bilateral trade and investment cooperation with Kazakhstan. In
particular, the United States and Kazakhstan will work together to
support both the diversification of Kazakhstan’s non-oil sector and
expansion of its role in global energy security. The United States
and Kazakhstan agreed to organize a trade and investment mission
to Kazakhstan in the near future. The United States and Kazakhstan
look forward to the Energy Partnership’s 10th Annual Meeting in
Astana in October 2013.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

9. Science and Technology:
The United States and Kazakhstan affirm their commitment to
strengthen scientific and technical cooperation between scientists,
engineers, and students at research institutes and in the private
sector in the context of the Joint Commission on Science and
Technology, which was launched June 24-25 of this year in Astana.
The United States welcomes Kazakhstan’s climate change initiatives
such as the "Green Bridge Initiative" and Expo-2017: Energy of the
Future. The United States also appreciates the willingness of
Kazakhstan to host the International Science and Technology
Center (ISTC) headquarters office.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue

10. People to People Contacts:
The United States and Kazakhstan affirm their commitment to increase
people-to-people contacts between the countries. In this regard,
both governments look forward to introducing five-year visas on a
reciprocal basis for diplomatic, official, student, media, business,
and tourist travelers from the United States and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan US Relations
Strategic Partnership Dialogue