The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance cooperation in the multilateral arena

India and Kazakhstan on Tuesday held the 7th round of Foreign office Consultations (FoC) through video-conferencing and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership.

“The consultations covered political, economic and commercial, energy, defence, space, consular and cultural matters. They also shared views and experiences on combating COVID-19 pandemic,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance cooperation in the multilateral arena, including during the forthcoming stint of India in the UN Security Council for the period 2021-22,” it added

While the Indian side was led by Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Kazakh side was represented by Shakhrat Nuryshev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asian country.

As announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the recent India-Central Asia Dialogue, an MoU on “Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects in Kazakhstan” was signed between both sides coinciding with the FoC.

The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. It was agreed to hold the next consultations in a physical format at a mutually convenient date.