Valletta, 16 January 2026 – Non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Malta, Yerbolat Sembayev, met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, Ian Borg. The meeting took place as part of Ambassador Sembayev’s working visit to Valletta.

During the meeting, the importance of further developing political dialogue and trade and economic cooperation, as well as expanding cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and Malta, was emphasised. The sides noted the significant potential for bilateral cooperation in the fields of construction, healthcare, transport, and finance.

In particular, Ambassador Sembayev highlighted the dynamic development of cooperation in the education sector and stressed the importance of further strengthening ties in tourism. He noted that Malta is one of the popular Mediterranean tourist destinations for Kazakh citizens, valued both for its hospitality and its safety. In this context, Ambassador Sembayev drew attention to the issue of lifting the visa regime with Malta, underscoring that such a step would help stimulate tourism cooperation.

The meeting also addressed international issues. Ambassador Sembayev referred to the recent drone attacks on oil tankers near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in the Black Sea, which were en route to transport Kazakh oil. One of the tankers involved was sailing under the Maltese flag. The Ambassador expressed Kazakhstan’s concern over the incident, noting that while Kazakhstan is not a party to the conflict, it faces risks and indirect losses, which in turn also affect the global oil market, particularly Europe.

For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, Ian Borg, expressed readiness for the swift signing of an agreement on the abolition of the visa regime between the two countries.

Regarding the attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea, Minister Borg underscored the importance of ensuring the security of maritime transport and full compliance with international law.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-roma/press/news/details/1143024?lang=kk