MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov said Saturday he discussed bilateral and international issues with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, who is currently in Astana on an official visit.
"We have in the narrow format exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional and international issues," Massimov said during the talks in expanded format.
According to Massimov, Davutoglu’s visit to Kazakhstan as a prime minister will help improve relations between the two countries. Davutoglu previously visited the country while holding the post of a foreign minister.
“For us, it [Kazakhstan] is a very close neighbor, very close friend,” Davutoglu said in his turn.
As part of the visit, the Turkish prime minister is expected to meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev later on Saturday. It is expected that Nazarbayev and Davutoglu will discuss the development of bilateral relations, focusing on economic, trade, transit and transport and energy spheres.