LONDON – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, met members of the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Co-operation with Central Asia on 25 February, alongside his counterparts from across the region, to discuss strengthening interparliamentary ties and expanding regional collaboration.
Addressing British lawmakers, Mr Kosherbayev underlined the importance Astana attaches to its relationship with the United Kingdom.
“We highly value our open political dialogue, growing trade and investment ties, as well as cooperation in education, innovation and sustainable development. Interparliamentary dialogue occupies a special place in this partnership,” he said.
The Foreign Minister noted that parliamentary contacts play a key role in fostering mutual understanding, sharing legislative best practice and enhancing co-ordination on regional and international matters.
He also highlighted Central Asia’s growing prominence on the global stage, arguing that stronger parliamentary engagement could help address shared challenges. “Central Asia today is a region of growing opportunities and increasing responsibility,” he said. “More active engagement between our parliaments can make a meaningful contribution to regional stability, sustainable development, climate action and the strengthening of ties between our countries.”
Mr Kosherbayev expressed confidence that the APPG’s work would further consolidate long-term, pragmatic co-operation between Kazakhstan and the UK. He also outlined Kazakhstan’s ongoing political and constitutional reform programme, aimed at modernising public administration and reinforcing state institutions. According to the minister, the reforms are designed to create a more balanced and accountable system of governance by strengthening Parliament’s role and enhancing institutional checks and balances.
British parliamentarians, for their part, acknowledged Central Asia’s increasing strategic importance and potential. They said closer parliamentary co-operation would support efforts to tackle common challenges, including regional stability, sustainable development and climate change. MPs also indicated their readiness to share the UK’s legislative experience and to deepen interparliamentary engagement.
During his visit, Mr Kosherbayev met the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. He reiterated that the UK remains one of Kazakhstan’s key European partners and voiced confidence that bilateral relations would continue to develop on the basis of mutual respect and trust.
The minister pointed to the active work of the Kazakhstan–UK Friendship Group in the Kazakh Parliament and welcomed the recent establishment of the APPG on co-operation with Central Asia in Westminster, comprising members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
“I am confident that the new group will make a meaningful contribution to strengthening interparliamentary co-operation between the UK and Kazakhstan, as well as other countries in our region,” he said.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle stressed the importance of reinforcing parliamentary links and confirmed the UK Parliament’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at advancing co-operation with Central Asia. He praised Kazakhstan’s role as a stable and reliable partner in the region and expressed interest in expanding dialogue between parliamentary delegations, as well as developing joint educational and cultural projects.
