Photo: Benoit Doppagne / Belga
Philippe and Mathilde on the first Belgian state visit to Central Asia
The royal couple waved goodbye from the aircraft steps at Melsbroek on Sunday morning. A few hours later President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was there in person to receive them at the airport in Astana.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde left the Melsbroek military airport outside Brussels on Sunday morning, bound for Kazakhstan. A few hours later they landed in Astana, where President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received them in person at the airport. It is he who has invited them.
The state visit itself runs from 12 to 14 October. It is the first Belgian state visit ever to Central Asia.
Minerals, AI and transport
The programme consists of diplomatic, economic, academic, cultural and scientific visits in Astana and in Almaty, the country's largest city.
The Royal House in Brussels says the visit will highlight the role Belgium and Kazakhstan play as platforms of exchange between Europe and Asia. Specifically, it points to cooperation in connectivity and transport, health, critical minerals, technology and artificial intelligence, and culture.
A broad delegation
The royal couple are not travelling alone. The party includes the minister for mobility, climate and environmental transition, the minister-president of the Brussels-Capital Region, the minister-president of Wallonia and the Flemish minister responsible for Brussels and the media. A number of Belgian business leaders and representatives of the universities are also along.
The composition says something about what the visit is about: this is as much a trade mission as a ceremonial journey.
This is the second time in four months that the royal couple have been on a state visit outside Europe. In June they were in Japan, hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.