Nazarbaev, Trump Discuss U.S.-Kazakh Relations In Phone Call

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on September 1 and the two discussed mutual relations and regional affairs, the presidents' offices said.

The White House said Nazarbayev expressed support for Trump's recently announced South Asian strategy, which included fortifying the U.S. fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan and penalizing Pakistan for harboring anti-Afghanistan militants within its borders.

Trump "expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s regional and global leadership, including its upcoming tenure as chair of the United Nations Security Council in January, and congratulated President Nazarbaev on hosting the Astana Expo 2017," the White House said.

Nazarbaev's office said Trump invited the Kazakh president to make an official visit to Washington. The White House did not confirm that an invitation was extended.

Nazarbaev's office said he told Trump that he "hopes the Moscow-Washington dialogue will be normalized" and that the two leaders agreed to boost bilateral trade and economic ties.

Nazerbaev also informed Trump about the "important role of the launching of the Low-Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan on August 29 in terms of improving global security," the Kazakh presidential press service said.

With reporting by Interfax