India seeks energy cooperation with Kazakhstan

India today sought Kazakhstan's help to ensure its energy security as the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

India today sought Kazakhstan's help to ensure its energy security as the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

"We held discussions on means of increasing bilateral trade and expanding the areas of economic cooperation, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector," Vice President Hamid Ansari said after delegation level talks with his Kazak counterpart Kassym Jomart Tokayev in Kazak capital.

The parleys saw Kazakhstan extending its support for India's membership in an extended United Nation Security Council with Tokayev hailing New Delhi as a "reliable partner" of Astana in international forum.

Kazakhstan, the biggest of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries after Russia, is among the top ten countries in terms of hydrocarbon energy reserves as also mineral resources including uranium.

The Kazak leader said that the two sides had reached an agreement on setting up a friendship group. Khazakhstan has been consistently supporting India's representation in an expanded UNSC.

Addressing the Kazakhstan Senate, Ansari, who also met Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim K Massimov said, "Greater economic engagement between India and the countries of the Central Asian region is not only mutually beneficial for the countries but also for the whole region and the world." .

Describing Central Asia as "our extended neighbourhood,"he said with the economies of India and Kazakhstan registering impressive growth, there are "wide ranging opportunities" to expand areas of economic cooperation.

The Vice President also expressed India's readiness to cooperate in the higher education sector by sending Indian professionals in Kazak and training Kazakh students and professionals in various disciplines in India.

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