Riyadh, April 14, 2025 – Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Maulen Ashimbayev arrived in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Consultative Council. In Riyadh, a meeting was held with the Chairman of the Consultative Council of the Kingdom Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Ash-Sheikh and the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Abdulatif bin Abdulaziz bin Abdrakhman Al Ash-Sheikh. The parties discussed the prospects for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and spiritual diplomacy, and outlined the tasks of joint work for the coming period.

During the meeting with the Chairman of the Shura Council, Maulen Ashimbayev noted that Saudi Arabia is one of the leading strategic partners of Kazakhstan. Over 30 years, bilateral relations between the two countries have reached a qualitatively high level in all areas. This result was achieved largely due to active interaction at the highest level.

"Cooperation between the two countries at the present stage is rapidly developing in various spheres. The key role in this is played by the relationship between the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, based on mutual respect, friendship, similar values ​​and views. I express my gratitude to you for your personal contribution to strengthening Kazakh-Saudi relations and supporting the ideas of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions," Maulen Ashimbayev said in his speech, addressing his interlocutor.

The Speaker of the Senate also noted the importance of further strengthening inter-parliamentary ties. The work on exchanging legislative experience, organizing mutual visits with the participation of deputies who are members of friendship groups, and establishing close contacts between the relevant committees of the Senate of Parliament and the Shura Council was noted.

"Interparliamentary dialogue plays an important role in the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. We are interested in further expanding cooperation with the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia. We are interested in the experience of the Shura Council in the field of legislative support for initiatives implemented in the Kingdom. In this regard, friendship groups operating in the Senate and the Shura Council could play an important role. It is advisable to use their potential as an effective tool for strengthening the dialogue. Activation of relations between sectoral Committees is also important," the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament said in his speech.

During the conversation, Maulen Ashimbayev highly appreciated the Kingdom's initiatives to overcome modern challenges in the field of food security and promote sustainable development, including within the framework of the Islamic Organization for Food Security and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. At the same time, the Speaker of the Senate spoke in detail about the comprehensive transformations in the political and socio-economic spheres carried out at the initiative of the President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In particular, they discussed measures to diversify the economy, develop digitalization, manufacturing industry and modernize infrastructure.

In turn, Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Ash-Sheikh expressed the interest of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia in developing multilateral relations and noted the effectiveness of the political transformation being carried out in Kazakhstan.

The interlocutors also discussed issues of trade, economic and investment cooperation, including preferences for investors in areas of mutual interest.

On the same day, Maulen Ashimbayev met with the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Abdulatif bin Abdulaziz bin Abdrakhman Al Ash-Sheikh, at which the parties discussed current issues and prospects for the development of interfaith dialogue. As the Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions noted, Saudi Arabia makes a significant contribution to strengthening tolerance and interfaith dialogue and supporting the ideas of the Congress. Such a step, according to Maulen Ashimbayev, is of great importance against the backdrop of growing turbulence.

"Today, the world faces serious challenges, such as geopolitical and economic tensions, armed conflicts. We also see how various forces use international tensions to promote radical ideology, incite xenophobia and spread hatred. In these circumstances, the promotion of spiritual diplomacy and the call of religious leaders for harmony and dialogue play an important role. Therefore, as part of the visit to Saudi Arabia, we, together with the World Muslim League, are organizing a round table on strengthening interreligious dialogue. We hope that such events will contribute to overcoming modern challenges and promoting dialogue at the international level," Maulen Ashimbayev noted, addressing his interlocutor, and informed about the preparations for the upcoming Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held in Astana in September of this year.

In turn, Abdulatif bin Abdulaziz bin Abdrakhman Al Ash-Sheikh expressed full support for the initiatives of the Congress, the values ​​of which are becoming increasingly important at the global level today, and declared his readiness to intensify cooperation to strengthen mutual respect and promote spiritual diplomacy. In addition, members of the Kazakh delegation familiarized themselves with the progress of the Neom project. Within the framework of which it is planned to build a megalopolis with an area of ​​26,500 km², which is aimed at reducing the environmental burden imposed by cities and the use of "green" energy.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-riyadh/press/news/details/976743?lang=kk