Scholz plans to forge deeper contacts with Central Asia

Astana (dpa) - Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described deeper relations with states in Central Asia as a “strategic objective for Germany”. “Exchanges between our societies have never been so close, and they are constantly growing as well, politically, economically and culturally,” said the Federal Chancellor at the second summit with five states in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. At the first summit meeting a year ago, Scholz had established a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. “Especially in times of global uncertainty and insecurity, we need close, trusted international partners,” said Scholz.  

The Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the collaboration on energy played a “key role” in the relationship, adding that, “Our bilateral cooperation is built in the spirit of a strategic partnership.”He invited German companies to join in surveys for rare minerals and metals in his country, and to participate in mining lithium, which is vital to manufacturing batteries.