ASTANA. February 24. KAZINFORM /Muratbek Makulbekov/ The Majilis (Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament) approved the draft Law "On ratification of the Agreement on strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and France".

"The document was initiated by the Kazakh side within the realization of "Path to Europe" program and meets its main goal: accession of Kazakhstan to the level of strategic partnership with the leading European countries and the European Union as a whole", Vice Foreign Minister Konstantin Zhigalov said.

He noted that France is the first country of the EU that Kazakhstan signed the strategic partnership agreement with. The Agreement was signed on June 11, 2008 within the official visit of President N.Nazarbayev to France. Agreements with Italy and Spain were signed later.

The Agreement will promote intensification of the trade-economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and France.