Gulmira Isimbaeva, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament’s Majilis of Kazakhstan, has also participated in the meeting.
The Secretary of State stressed that this year marks the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Japan. G.Abdykalikova noted the strategic nature of bilateral relations between our countries, as evidenced by regular meetings of the two states’ leaders.
The Secretary of State stressed Professor Takemi’s contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary relations between Kazakhstan and Japan. The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) is an important platform for developing a dialogue between parliamentarians, the exchange of experience on population and development issues, the development of the overall strategy for reproductive health and the protection of women's rights.
G.Abdykalikova noted that our country pursues a consistent policy in the field of empowerment of women, which are outlined in the Concept of Family and Gender Policy in Kazakhstan until 2030.
- At present, due to socio-economic achievements and reaching a new level of development, Kazakhstan is adjusting development assistance issues and considering the possibility of increasing aid to the countries most in need, in Afghanistan and the states of the Asia-Pacific region. In this regard, in cooperation with UNDP and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project document "Assistance to Kazakhstan in cooperation with Afghanistan in the field of official development assistance" was elaborated, the Secretary said.
Gulshara Abdykalikova stressed that for the first time Kazakhstan has assumed the duties of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-18 and the coincidence of the terms of participation of Kazakhstan and Japan in the activities of the UN Security Council in 2017 opens additional opportunities for developing partnership relations.
At the end of the meeting, the State Secretary of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova wished the AFPPD Chairperson Keizo Takemi a fruitful stay in Kazakhstan and expressed her hope for further strengthening of relations between Kazakhstan and Japan.