ASTANA, Thursday, May 14, 2026 (WNP): President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was accorded a formal and ceremonial welcome in the Kazakh capital Astana on Thursday as he arrived for an official state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, aimed at strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the Turkish head of state at the presidential palace, where he was greeted with full state protocol, including military honours and official greetings in line with diplomatic tradition.

During the arrival ceremony, President Erdoğan inspected a guard of honour as national anthems of both countries were played, reflecting the longstanding friendly and strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit comes amid expanded high-level engagement between Ankara and Astana, with both sides expected to hold wide-ranging discussions on trade, energy cooperation, transport connectivity, defence industry collaboration, and regional stability.

Erdoğan is also scheduled to participate in high-level bilateral meetings and broader regional consultations, underscoring Türkiye’s growing diplomatic and economic engagement with Central Asia.

Türkiye and Kazakhstan share deep historical, cultural, and linguistic ties as part of the wider Turkic world, with both governments seeking to elevate their strategic partnership through enhanced political dialogue and economic integration.