French President Francois Hollande has told Nursultan Nazarbaev that Kazakhstan has a role to play in easing tension between Russia and the West over Ukraine.
Hollande arrived in the Kazakh capital Astana on December 5 for a two-day visit aimed at boosting trade and political ties with the Central Asian country.
Hollande told Nazarbaev that France is interested in economic and trade cooperation with Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh president's press service quoted Hollande as saying: "We are meeting at the time when a tense situation is seen in relations between Russia and European countries. I would like it to be resolved and in that matter your country plays a special role."
Nazarbaev said that economic agreements would be discussed at the Kazakh-French business-forum and the forum of university rectors after the talks.
After meetings in Astana, Hollande is due to travel to Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty.
Based on reports by akorda.kz, Kazinform and AFP
