The Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Serikkali Brekeshev and the USA Charge d'affaires in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Judy Kuo, held a bilateral meeting at which they discussed the development of cooperation in the field of environmental protection.

The Head of the Department thanked Ms. Judy Kuo for her support in organizing a meeting of the heads of environmental agencies of Central Asian countries within the framework of the C5+1 political dialogue in September last year, where the participants had a unique opportunity to discuss important issues of climate change, ecology and environmental protection.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the following issues:

- Kazakhstan's accession to the Global Commitment to Reduce Methane Emissions;

- strategies for achieving carbon neutrality;

- Cooperation within the framework of the C5+1 Working group on the environment;

- reduction of the current rates of utilization fee for motor vehicles and agricultural machinery;

- geology and natural resources.

S. Brekeshev in his speech noted: "Kazakhstan is ready to reduce methane emissions, we are aware that reducing methane emissions can provide both environmental and economic benefits. We plan to join the Global Commitment to Reduce Methane Emissions and make country commitments to reduce methane emissions."

It was also said that cooperation within the framework of the C5+1 working group is an important mechanism for regional cooperation between the United States and Central Asian countries for Kazakhstan.

On environmental protection, our republic continues to cooperate with the USAID agency by exchanging experience in the field of adaptation to climate change and meeting with agency experts on afforestation of degraded landscapes of the Aral Sea basin.

The parties also discussed issues of cooperation in the field of geological exploration and attracting investment in this area.

"We consider the United States as a strategic partner in the field of geological exploration, mining and processing of rare and rare earth metals," the minister said.

Attracting investors is a worldwide practice and the introduction of the information system "National Data Bank of Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan" will allow for free access and automation of the processes of obtaining materials for subsurface use for exploration of solid minerals.

"We hope for a close partnership between the geological services of our countries, and we also invite American companies to mutually beneficial cooperation. We are ready to provide full support to the US business for the successful implementation of joint projects in Kazakhstan," the meeting's entrance said.

In conclusion, the Minister invited representatives of the US Embassy to take part in the planting of the saxaul on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea.

Remind that in order to increase the rate of afforestation of the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, as part of the President's order to plant two billion trees, it is planned to plant a saxaul on an area of 213 thousand hectares by 2025.

Source: Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.