U.S. voices readiness for cooperating with Kazakhstan in critical minerals

ASTANA. June 16 (Interfax) - The United States is exploring an opportunity for broader cooperation with Kazakhstan in critical minerals, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service said.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer while paying an official visit to the United States, it said.

"The United States has voiced the readiness to expand cooperation in critical minerals, including the development of a full-scale ecosystem incorporating processing and high-end production," the press service said.

Emphasis was put on the current U.S. trade policy and the joint work on tariffs and non-tariff barriers. The sides also discussed a broad range of issues in bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation, it said.

The sides noted the development of bilateral economic relations, including those in energy, rare earths, transport and high technologies, the press service said.

Prospects for expanding transport and logistics routes, diversifying export destinations, developing respective infrastructure, and providing mutual access to agricultural markets were addressed, as well, it said.

Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to creating a favorable climate for foreign investments with emphasis on the ongoing large-scale joint projects with leading U.S. companies, the press service said.