King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Kazakhstan on Monday for a state visit, the first by a Belgian monarch to Central Asia’s largest nation, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Brussels and Astana.
“This is a historic visit that has generated enormous interest in our society,” Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said after receiving the royal couple at the Akorda presidential palace.
Tokayev noted that next year the two nations will celebrate the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.
He emphasized that Kazakhstan considers Belgium a long-standing and trusted European partner.
According to the Kazakh president, Belgium ranks among the country’s top trade partners and is one of the ten largest foreign investors in its economy.
Tokayev highlighted the potential to expand cooperation in transport and logistics, critical minerals, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.
Both parties paid special attention to collaboration within the European Union and international forums.
For his part, King Philippe highlighted Kazakhstan’s rapid development and Central Asia‘s growing importance for Belgium.
The monarch expressed confidence that bilateral relations could reach a higher level, underscoring the potential for cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, and science.
“We are all very impressed by the country’s development under your leadership,” he told Tokayev.
The Belgian delegation included government officials, regional authorities, business representatives, academic institutions, and media.
Seeking practical results
A key highlight of the agenda will be the fourth meeting of the Kazakhstan-Belgium Business Council, scheduled in Astana on Tuesday.
Tokayev said the platform should facilitate promising initiatives and deliver concrete economic results.
Bilateral trade between January and August 2026 grew 9% compared to the same period last year, from $324 million to $353 million, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade.
Kazakh exports increased 9.7% to $184 million. Key exports included flaxseed, molybdenum ores and concentrates, and titanium.
Imports of Belgian goods grew by 8.3% to $169.4 million.
Kazakhstan primarily imported pharmaceuticals, industrial and agricultural machinery, petroleum products, tractors, vaccines, and other medical supplies. EFE