Press release: Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan visits Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

FCO Minister Sir Alan Duncan has visited Nur-Sultan, the newly-renamed capital of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev after almost 30 years of leadership.

Sir Alan Duncan was welcomed by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Beibut Atamkulov, Chair of the Senate Dariga Nazarbayeva and Chair of the Majilis Nurlan Nigmatulin, ensuring that our strong government-to-government contacts flourish throughout this time of leadership change in Kazakhstan. He also visited the Astana International Financial Centre. The Minister for Europe and the Americas reaffirmed the UK’s close ties with Kazakhstan and our shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Central Asia.

Speaking after the visit, Sir Alan Duncan said:

The recent resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev was a momentous event in the history of Kazakhstan, and Central Asia. At this important moment of transition, I would like to express the UK’s best wishes to the First President Nursultan Nazarbayev, his successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and to the country.

Kazakhstan is an important partner for the UK. During my visit we discussed how the UK and Kazakhstan could further our shared objectives for stability and security in Central Asia and the wider region. Both countries are committed to strengthening our bilateral relationship and to develop our already strong commercial ties including in legal services and higher education.

Last year, we celebrated the opening of the Astana International Financial Centre – the first international financial centre established in Central Asia with a special legal regime based on the principles of English law.

Since independence in 1991, UK investment in Kazakhstan has totalled over £20bn. As one of Kazakhstan’s top investors, we are confident that the close links between our two countries will continue to flourish and expand in the years to come.

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