Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has praised European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for his "full understanding" of the issues the two politicians discussed in Brussels on March 30.
Speaking to journalists afterward, Nazarbaev said the meeting focused on ratification of the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2015 and sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
Nazarbaev added that he asked Juncker to assist in lifting visa requirements for Kazakh citizens traveling to EU countries as a goodwill gesture after Kazakhstan lifted tourist visa requirements for EU and U.S. citizens in July 2015.
While hailing closer ties with the West, Nazarbaev noted Russia and China remain key partners for Kazakhstan.
"Located in the very center of the Eurasian continent and being landlocked, Kazakhstan has been building close, friendly ties with the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation; they are our major partners in economic cooperation," Nazarbaev said.
