OREANDA-NEWS. September 15, 2014. "Following the results of the first six months of 2014 more than half of Kazakhstan's foreign trade falls on the EU countries," Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said at today's meeting with Gunnar Wiegand, the European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia Regional Cooperation.

"The EU has been the leading trading and investment partner of Kazakhstan in recent years. Last year the sales between Kazakhstan and the EU countries reached USD 53,4 billion. For the past six months volume of trade made USD 28,4 billion that is 54,7% of the country's total foreign trade.

The talks addressed also the 8-round negotiations on a new agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. Idrissov noted that the new agreement bears witness of mutual growing interest in building closer, more privileged and mutual benefit cooperation.

"It will create a favorable climate for active participation of European business and investments into economic development of Kazakhstan and reveal new opportunities in various fields," he added.

The sides also focused on bilateral cooperation, liberalization of the visa regime and economic cooperation, Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO, issues of regional and international agenda.