President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's Visit to Türkiye (July 2025)

The visit by Kazakh President Tokayev was an official state visit that took place in Ankara on July 28–29, 2025. The discussions focused on strategic partnership, economic cooperation, and regional issues. As part of the visit, the fifth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held, 20 agreements were signed between the two countries, and President Tokayev was conferred the State Order of the Republic of Türkiye.

President Erdoğan Welcomes Kazakh President Tokayev at Esenboğa Airport, July 28, 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)

Tokayev's Arrival in Ankara and Anıtkabir Visit

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, in the evening of July 28, 2025, for official talks. He was welcomed at Ankara Esenboğa Airport by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As part of the welcome ceremony, an honor guard was present at the airport for the Kazakh head of state. A brief meeting was held between Erdoğan and Tokayev in the airport's VIP lounge, after which the two presidents left the airport in the same car.

The following day, on July 29, 2025, President Tokayev visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The official Kazakh delegation accompanied Tokayev during the ceremony. After laying a wreath at the mausoleum, Tokayev signed the Anıtkabir Memorial Book, expressing his belief that the friendship between Kazakhstan and Türkiye will continue to strengthen in the future.

Official Welcome and Protocol Ceremony

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was officially welcomed with a ceremony at the Presidential Complex on July 29, 2025. Cavalry met Tokayev's motorcade on the avenue in front of the Presidential Complex, escorting it to the protocol gate. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan then welcomed Tokayev at the main entrance of the Complex.

President Erdoğan Welcomes Kazakh President Tokayev with Official Ceremony, July 29, 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)

After the two leaders took their places in the ceremony area, the national anthems of Türkiye and Kazakhstan were played. Flags and soldiers representing the 16 historical Turkic states were present in the protocol line. A 21-gun salute was fired during the ceremony. Tokayev saluted the Honor Guard by saying, "Hello, soldier." Erdoğan and Tokayev then introduced their respective delegations to each other before shaking hands and posing for the press in front of the Turkish and Kazakh flags.

The official ceremony was attended by the Turkish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, National Education, Trade, Transportation, Energy, Culture and Tourism, Environment, Agriculture, and Industry and Technology, as well as the Presidential Communications Director, the Head of the Defense Industries Presidency, and other senior state officials.

Tokayev-Erdoğan Meetings

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Complex on July 29, 2025. The talks focused on developing bilateral relations and deepening existing cooperation. The leaders evaluated joint projects in various fields, including energy, transportation, mining, defense industry, digital technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, education, and culture.

During the meeting, issues of counterterrorism, particularly concerning FETÖ, were also discussed. The leaders reviewed the increasing tourism traffic between the two countries and their reciprocal visa-free policies. Investments by Türkiye in Kazakhstan and the interest of Kazakh investors in Türkiye were also addressed in the context of developing economic relations. Additionally, the activities of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University and the Turkish Maarif Foundation's process of opening schools in Astana and Almaty were discussed.

5th Meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council

The fifth meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was held at the Presidential Complex on July 29, 2025. During the meeting, the progress of the "Enhanced Strategic Partnership" between the two countries was evaluated, and new goals were set to deepen this partnership further.

As part of the council meeting, decisions were made to develop the Middle Corridor, increase energy cooperation, plan concrete projects in the defense industry, expand bilateral trade volume, and broaden relations in the fields of agriculture and media. In the inter-delegation sessions, numerous documents were prepared to strengthen the contractual basis of agreements between Türkiye and Kazakhstan, and a consensus was reached for their signing.

The joint communiqué also included diplomatic references to relations within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Kazakhstan's hosting of the OTS Informal Summit in Turkistan in 2026 was also among the topics on the agenda.

Signed Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding

A total of 20 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between Türkiye and Kazakhstan in the presence of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. These documents aim to institutionalize multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The agreements cover various sectors, including economy, energy, transportation, defense, education, health, industry, environment, media, digital technologies, and mining.

• Energy: A "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Energy" was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye and the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan. Additionally, a cooperation agreement was signed between TPAO and KazMunayGas, which outlines a strategic partnership for hydrocarbon exploration, production, and development activities. A cooperation memorandum on the mining sector was also agreed upon by the parties.
• Transportation: Two separate documents concerning international road transport and rail freight transport via the Middle Corridor were signed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye and the TCDD.
• Defense: A technical agreement regulating cooperation between the governments of Türkiye and Kazakhstan within the scope of UNIFIL was approved.
• Health and Education: Two different memoranda were signed between the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency and its Kazakh counterparts in the health and pharmaceutical sector. In the field of education, a document on educational activities was signed between the Turkish Maarif Foundation and the Ibrai Altynsarin National Education Academy.
• Technology: Two memoranda of understanding on digital technology, artificial intelligence, and space activities were arranged between Türkiye's Ministry of Industry and Technology and Kazakhstan's Ministry of Digital Development and Innovation. A memorandum of understanding for information and experience sharing was also signed in the field of media and communication between the Turkish Presidency's Directorate of Communications and the Communications Service of the President of Kazakhstan.
• Trade and Investment: Investment agreements worth a total of $490 million, covering various sectors, were implemented between the government of Kazakhstan and Turkish companies. These agreements focus on priority areas such as energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, logistics, health, and manufacturing infrastructure.

Joint Press Conference

Following the 5th Meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex on July 29, 2025. During the conference, they made statements about the current state of relations, economic cooperation, international affairs, and future goals.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, stating, "As you will recall, we elevated our relations with Kazakhstan, with which we declared a Strategic Partnership in 2019, to the level of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership three years ago. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in the region, is also our biggest trading partner in the region. We are continuing our journey with a target of $15 billion in trade volume."

Erdoğan also touched upon the diversity of cooperation and the economic partnership, saying, "Our contracting firms have successfully undertaken over 500 projects valued at $30 billion to date. Today, we exchanged views on a wide range of issues, from defense to energy, transportation, and science and technology. As a result, we signed the 20 documents that you just witnessed." He specifically noted that cooperation would be deepened in mining, rare earth elements, and the transportation of Kazakh oil to world markets via Türkiye.

President Erdoğan summarized the discussions on transportation and transit with the statement, "We consulted on what we can do to use and develop the Middle Corridor, which is the modern equivalent of the Silk Road." Regarding education and cultural relations, he said, "Our first comprehensive joint project, the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, has graduated over 100,000 students for more than 30 years. I would also like to announce that with President Tokayev's support, the Turkish Maarif Foundation has started work on opening a school in Astana and another in Almaty. Furthermore, Gazi University will open a branch at Southern Kazakhstan Pedagogical University."

International issues were also on the agenda. Erdoğan stated, "I also discussed regional and international issues with President Tokayev, in this challenging period the world is going through. We exchanged views on topics such as Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Afghanistan." He reiterated his stance on Palestine by saying, "The terrorist state of Israel has been brutally murdering the Palestinian people for 22 months. It is committing genocide against our Gazan brothers and sisters, whom it has confined to a 360-square-kilometer area."

In his speech, President Tokayev commented on Türkiye's rising position in the international system and Erdoğan's leadership: "Thanks to the balanced and regional politics of the esteemed President in the international arena, Türkiye has become a valuable and influential state with sincere respect worldwide. The unity, wisdom, and strength of the Turkish people lie at the heart of this."

Tokayev highlighted Türkiye's achievements, especially in information technologies and the defense industry, saying, "Your modern and state-of-the-art technologies are highly valued by international experts. Developing information technologies and using modern digital capabilities in various sectors of the economy is today's demand. Therefore, we placed special importance on developing information technologies together."

On education, tourism, and humanitarian relations, Tokayev made the following assessment: "The number of Kazakh students studying in Türkiye and Turkish students studying in Kazakhstan is quite high. We must continue these beneficial initiatives and further strengthen ties in education, tourism, and medicine. A decision was made to grant Turkish citizens 'up to 90 days of visa-free stay in Kazakhstan.' This is an important step for visitors and businesspeople."

Finally, President Tokayev concluded his remarks on the future of cooperation by saying, "I have no doubt that today's meetings will further develop the cooperation between our two countries and give a great boost to the friendship between Kazakhstan and Türkiye. May the friendship of our two countries be eternal, and may our cooperation continue to grow."

Joint Press Conference

Following the 5th Meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex on July 29, 2025. During the conference, they made statements about the current state of relations, economic cooperation, international affairs, and future goals.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, stating, "As you will recall, we elevated our relations with Kazakhstan, with which we declared a Strategic Partnership in 2019, to the level of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership three years ago. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in the region, is also our biggest trading partner in the region. We are continuing our journey with a target of $15 billion in trade volume."

Erdoğan also touched upon the diversity of cooperation and the economic partnership, saying, "Our contracting firms have successfully undertaken over 500 projects valued at $30 billion to date. Today, we exchanged views on a wide range of issues, from defense to energy, transportation, and science and technology. As a result, we signed the 20 documents that you just witnessed." He specifically noted that cooperation would be deepened in mining, rare earth elements, and the transportation of Kazakh oil to world markets via Türkiye.

President Erdoğan summarized the discussions on transportation and transit with the statement, "We consulted on what we can do to use and develop the Middle Corridor, which is the modern equivalent of the Silk Road." Regarding education and cultural relations, he said, "Our first comprehensive joint project, the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, has graduated over 100,000 students for more than 30 years. I would also like to announce that with President Tokayev's support, the Turkish Maarif Foundation has started work on opening a school in Astana and another in Almaty. Furthermore, Gazi University will open a branch at Southern Kazakhstan Pedagogical University."

International issues were also on the agenda. Erdoğan stated, "I also discussed regional and international issues with President Tokayev, in this challenging period the world is going through. We exchanged views on topics such as Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Afghanistan." He reiterated his stance on Palestine by saying, "The terrorist state of Israel has been brutally murdering the Palestinian people for 22 months. It is committing genocide against our Gazan brothers and sisters, whom it has confined to a 360-square-kilometer area."

In his speech, President Tokayev commented on Türkiye's rising position in the international system and Erdoğan's leadership: "Thanks to the balanced and regional politics of the esteemed President in the international arena, Türkiye has become a valuable and influential state with sincere respect worldwide. The unity, wisdom, and strength of the Turkish people lie at the heart of this."

Tokayev highlighted Türkiye's achievements, especially in information technologies and the defense industry, saying, "Your modern and state-of-the-art technologies are highly valued by international experts. Developing information technologies and using modern digital capabilities in various sectors of the economy is today's demand. Therefore, we placed special importance on developing information technologies together."

On education, tourism, and humanitarian relations, Tokayev made the following assessment: "The number of Kazakh students studying in Türkiye and Turkish students studying in Kazakhstan is quite high. We must continue these beneficial initiatives and further strengthen ties in education, tourism, and medicine. A decision was made to grant Turkish citizens 'up to 90 days of visa-free stay in Kazakhstan.' This is an important step for visitors and businesspeople."

Finally, President Tokayev concluded his remarks on the future of cooperation by saying, "I have no doubt that today's meetings will further develop the cooperation between our two countries and give a great boost to the friendship between Kazakhstan and Türkiye. May the friendship of our two countries be eternal, and may our cooperation continue to grow."

Tokayev's Meeting with Turkish Investors

As part of his official visit to Türkiye, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held bilateral meetings with the senior executives of various Turkish companies. He met with representatives from YDA Holding, S Sistem Lojistik, Tiryaki Holding, and Orzax Group. The discussions centered on the status of existing investments in Kazakhstan, new projects, and opportunities for strategic partnerships.

• In the meeting with YDA Holding Chairman Hüseyin Arslan, discussions covered the company's hospital construction activities in Turkistan, Astana, and Petropavl. Plans to begin production at the YDA Industrial Park, establish a sandwich panel facility in Astana, and build a transit center in the port city of Aktau were also evaluated.
• The meeting with S Sistem Lojistik Chairman Hüseyin Barlın focused on expanding logistics operations in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, and Aktau; establishing a logistics center at Aktobe International Airport; and projects aimed at developing the Middle Corridor.
• In the meeting with Tiryaki Holding General Manager Süleyman Tiryakioğlu, a plan to invest in an agro-industrial facility for processing products like wheat and peas in Astana was discussed, and mutual long-term partnership goals were expressed.
• The meeting with Orzax Group Chairman Selman Alimoğlu addressed a project to establish a production facility in Kazakhstan's Turkistan region. The company's goals of expanding its production bases, fostering research and innovation, and creating 500 permanent jobs with a $40 million investment were also conveyed.

Education, Culture, and Visa-Free Regime

During Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Türkiye, developments in educational and cultural relations, as well as the visa-free regime, were prominent items on the agenda.

Tokayev announced that the visa-free stay for Turkish citizens in Kazakhstan has been extended to 90 days, emphasizing that this is a significant convenience for both visitors and businesspeople. Türkiye is currently one of the most popular travel destinations for Kazakh citizens. As of 2024, the number of Kazakh tourists vacationing in Türkiye reached 863,000, while 130,000 Turkish tourists traveled to Kazakhstan during the same period.

In the field of education, it was noted that the number of Kazakh students studying in Türkiye has surpassed 12,000, and an additional 300 students were awarded scholarships under the Türkiye Scholarships program for the 2024–2025 academic year. Tokayev stated that numerous academic cooperation protocols exist between the two countries' universities and that continuing these initiatives will further strengthen connections in education, health, and tourism.

Tokayev highlighted the role of cultural relations as a "golden bridge" between the peoples, stressing that they place special importance on cooperation in areas like education, culture, and human mobility.

Closed-Door Dinner

On the evening of July 29, 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a formal dinner in honor of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Beştepe Nation's Exhibition Hall within the Presidential Complex. The dinner was held after the State Order of the Republic of Türkiye was conferred upon Tokayev. The event was closed to the press and was attended exclusively by the two leaders and a limited number of guests.