Kazakhstan is keen on boosting cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for mutual benefit, Ambassador and head of the Kazakhstan delegation to the ASEAN Askhat T. Orazabay has said.

Presented his credentials to the association’s Secretary-General Le Luong Minh in Jakarta on January 24, the diplomat said Kazakhstan - one of the largest countries in Asia and member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) – highly values the role of ASEAN in the region and the world.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will beef up cooperation through joint activities as well as at international organisations.

He pledged that he will spare no effort to make contribution to fostering ASEAN’s relations with the SCO in security and with the ECO in economics.

Secretary-General Le Luong Minh congratulated Orazabay on his new position and lauded his initiatives in bolstering bilateral and regional cooperation between Kazakhstan and ASEAN, as well as between ASEAN and the SCO and the ECO.

He said he hopes the diplomat will work closely and effectively with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN’s Committee of Permanent Representatives.

To date, Kazakhstan has set up representative delegations in five ASEAN member countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA