OREANDA-NEWS. November 14, 2014. Prime Minister Karim Massimov has held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, who arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit in Ukimet Uiy.

During the meeting, Mr. Massimov and I.Garibashvili discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral trade and economic, investment and transit-transport cooperation.

Following the talks, the heads of governments held a joint press conference.

"We came to a consensus on the need to increase trade and economic cooperation. There are untapped reserves for expansion of mutual trade between the two countries. We are interested in intensifying contacts in such priority areas of the economy as transport, communications, agriculture, tourism and other areas," K. Massimov said.

The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan emphasized that the key issue on the agenda was expansion of transit transport corridors linking the two countries. In this regard, K. Massimov noted Kazakhstan's interest in speedy completion of the railway "Baku-Tbilisi-Kars", which would provide the output of Kazakh products across the Caspian Sea to Europe, and the Georgian goods through the territory of Kazakhstan in Central Asia and China.

"In general, I believe that the results of the visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to Astana will bring Kazakh-Georgian relations to a higher quality level of alliance and strategic partnership," Prime Minister added.

In turn, I. Garibashvili noted that Kazakhstan is a friend and, traditionally, the major partner of Georgia.

"We are interested in restoration of ties between the private sector and development of trade and economic cooperation, tourism, promotion of agricultural products in our countries and deepening cooperation in the spheres of science, education, information, culture and sport," Prime Minister of Georgia said.

In conclusion I. Garibashvili expressed readiness of the Government of Georgia to the comprehensive development and deepening of the Kazakh-Georgian relations to the benefit of our peoples.