Georgian PM begins official visit to Kazakhstan

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has departed for an official visit to Kazakhstan, where he is scheduled to hold high-level talks with the country's political leadership and oversee the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements.

An official welcoming ceremony for Kobakhidze will be held at the Palace of Independence, where he will be received by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the government press office said on Monday.

The visit will include one-on-one and expanded-format meetings between Kobakhidze and Tokayev. Following the talks, the two sides are expected to sign a number of memorandums of cooperation between relevant Georgian and Kazakh government agencies covering various sectors.

As part of the official program, Kobakhidze will also meet with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The meeting will be attended by members of both governments.

The Georgian prime minister is accompanied by a delegation that includes Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture David Songulashvili, and Head of the Government Administration Levan Zhorzholiani.