JAMES Cleverly looks ready fur business on an official visit to Kazakhstan.
The Foreign Secretary was in the central Asian nation to discuss export support, bypassing former ally Russia.
He met Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and senior officials before signing a memorandum on supplies of critical minerals.
Mr Cleverly also said the UK “greatly appreciates” the refusal of Kazakhstan to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said: “The UK greatly appreciates Kazakhstan’s consistent and principled position in supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and your desire to bring about resolution to the war in line with the UN charter.”
Mr Cleverly discussed the disruptions in Kazakh oil exports.
He also discussed ways to support the development of alternative routes such as the so-called Middle Corridor.
Cleverly and Kazakh diplomats said they have signed a memorandum on critical minerals such as rare earth metals, but provided no details about it.
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