Kazakhstan Will Consider Easing Visa Requirements For M'sians

From Santhia Panjanadan ASTANA (Kazakhstan) May 30 (Bernama) -- Kazakhstan will consider easing visa requirements for Malaysians given the country’s aspiration to be a global investment player, says Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Sarybay. "Unfortunately, Kazakhstan is not well known in Malaysia, but I am aware more Kazakhstanis are going to Malaysia. "To promote tourism between Malaysia and Kazakhstan, we should definitely think about the visa regime with Malaysia and maybe we should take our first step for the diplomatic and service passes. "However, as our President Nursultan Nazarbayev is targeting significant developments for Kazakhstan on the investment platform, we will consider how we can ease the visa regime for the business community as they are potential investors," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Fifth Astana Forum. On Malaysia being among the important nations the republic would be enhancing bilateral relations, Sarybay said Malaysia can be a good model for Kazakhstan not only in terms of its economy, successfully implemented policies, strategic planning, diversified agendas and multi-ethnic population. "Malaysia's model is crucial to Kazakhstan's strategic planning. We have long-term bilateral relations between our president and (former Malaysian prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad," he said. The recent exchange of visits by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Nazarbayev would further create and give new impetus to foster relations between the two nations, he said. "We will work to implement similar policies which have been put in place in Malaysia. The similarities in approaches give us more perspective and space for mutual cooperation. With the Customs Union membership of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus that provides a single economy space, foreign investors coming to Kazakhstan would also benefit from it. "Kazakhstan will use its geo-political position to bridge the country between Euroasian and Asean region, especially with Malaysia," he added. -- BERNAMA