Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and President Tokayev of Kazakhstan
Federal Chancellor Merz and Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev have agreed on a roadmap to strengthen cooperation in the fields of industry, technology and raw materials. The meeting also focused on the security of Europe’s oil supply and Russia’s war of aggression.
- Transcript of press conference
- Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Kazakhs and Germans also have strong cultural ties, said Federal Chancellor Merz at a reception for Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev in Berlin.
Photo: Federal Government/Xander Heinl
Kazakhstan is Germany’s most important trading partner in Central Asia, said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a visit by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Shomart Tokayev to Berlin on Tuesday. He referred to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 35 years ago and said that Kazakhstan deserved the utmost respect for calling for Russia to back down from its war of aggression against Ukraine.
The most important points in brief:
- Peace initiatives and sanctions: Federal Chancellor Merz reiterated Germany’s position that, after nearly five years of war, Russia must finally enter into serious negotiations. For this, there needs to be a clear set of guiding principles, he said, adding that peace negotiations can only take place with Ukraine and the Europeans at the table, with the aim being a sovereign Ukraine in a secure Europe. The Federal Chancellor thanked Kazakhstan for its help in preventing the circumvention of sanctions against Russia: “That’s work for peace.”
- Economic Roadmap 2026–2028: The joint roadmap agreed by Germany and Kazakhstan is intended to drive development in industry, technology and raw materials. Key elements include promoting joint supply chain analyses and creating a reliable framework for small and medium-sized businesses, for example through mutual recognition of standards. Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised how this is essential particularly for small and medium-sized businesses making investments across great distances.
- Energy and logistics: Kazakhstan is Germany’s most important trading partner in Central Asia, Merz noted, and it is already making a significant contribution to the security of Europe’s oil supply. He pointed out that the German-Kazakh Energy Dialogue is proving its worth in this regard, with the creation of resilient logistics networks and the expansion of the Middle Corridor intended to help forge even closer links between Germany and Kazakhstan in future.
The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian Route) is a trade and transport route between Asia and Europe running from China through Central Asia and the Caucasus into the EU, thus bypassing Russia. Since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Middle Corridor has served as an important alternative for securing supply chains and energy transport independently of Moscow.
Read the transcript (german) of the press conference here: