ASTANA.  February 24. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ Due to the Presidents of Kazakhstan and France both countries enjoy strong business contacts to date. First Vice Chairman of Nur Otan People's Democratic Party Nurlan Nigmatullin and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to our country Jean-Charles Berthonnet stated it at a meeting today.

"The official visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to France in June 2008 opened brand new stage in the Kazakh-French relations", N. Nigmatullin noted.

"France was the first European country which concluded a Strategic Partnership Treaty with Kazakhstan. In addition, France supports Kazakhstan's initiatives regarding the OSCE top-level summit and the talks on a new Agreement on Advanced Partnership with the European Union", Nigmatullin stressed.

In turn, Jean-Charles Berthonnet congratulated N. Nigmatullin on beginning of Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship. He also noted close relations between the ruling parties of both countries: Nur Otan People's Democratic Party and France's Union for Popular Movement.

Upon completion of the meeting the parties discussed the promising directions of cooperation in the interests of two countries.