King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Kazakhstan: talks with Tokayev on expanding cooperation

Talks in Astana and the stated areas of cooperation

King Abdullah II of Jordan arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit, where he held talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to Kazakhstan's presidential administration, both leaders declared their intention to expand cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, technology and defense, reports Anadolu.

Assessment of bilateral relations

Tokayev called the visit proof of the 'strong bonds of friendship, mutual respect and solidarity' between the two countries and described Jordan as 'a time-tested and reliable partner in the Arab world.' He noted that in recent years cooperation had gained new momentum, and that the past year marked a special stage in bilateral ties: the two heads of state exchanged visits. According to him, the joint statement adopted following those talks and the numerous documents signed by ministries, agencies and business representatives contributed to the development of multifaceted cooperation. The president emphasized that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the practical implementation of the agreements reached, and that economic interaction remains the key driver of relations; he also pointed to the significant potential for expanding cultural and humanitarian ties, including academic and scientific contacts and growth in tourist flows.

The Aqaba Process and security

Abdullah II thanked Tokayev for the warm reception and for co-organizing a new round of meetings of the 'Aqaba Process,' calling it evidence of the two countries' shared commitment to addressing regional and global security challenges. He confirmed Jordan's interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan on regional security and on countering terrorism and extremism. Tokayev, for his part, noted that Kazakhstan highly values the 'Aqaba Process,' launched by the king more than ten years ago, and said it was an honor for the country to co-organize the first meeting of this format in Central Asia. The session's theme was artificial intelligence security; Tokayev expressed confidence that the summit would present the vision of the Central Asian region and give new momentum to joint efforts to maintain peace and security.

Context

The statements by the two sides concern intentions and assessments of what has been achieved: no specific new agreements or their amounts are cited in the report. It is worth noting separately that the 'Aqaba Process' meeting on artificial intelligence security is the first time this format has been held in Central Asia, making Kazakhstan a venue for discussing the regional security agenda with the participation of the Jordanian side.