Kazakhstan, U.S. sign memorandum of cooperation on critical minerals

ASTANA. Nov 6 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan and the United States signed a memorandum of mutual understanding on cooperation in the sphere of critical minerals, the presidential press service said.

The document was signed by Kazakh Industry and Construction Minister Yersayin Nagaspayev and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in the presence of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Tokayev earlier arrived in Washington to attend the Central Asia - U.S. summit.

The U.S. Department of State said Tokayev and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had discussed cooperation in various areas.

"Secretary Rubio and President Tokayev discussed expanding opportunities for commercial trade and investment as well as increased cooperation with Kazakhstan in energy, technology, and infrastructure," the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.

The countries agreed to deepen cooperation to ensure access to rare-earth metals and to strengthen energy security, it said.