An official welcoming ceremony has been held at the Palace of Independence in Astana as Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, who is on an official visit to the country.

President Tokayev personally greeted the visiting leader, marking the start of a formal reception that underscored the diplomatic significance of the visit. An honor guard lined the hall as both presidents introduced their delegations, highlighting the ceremonial protocol of the high-level meeting, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The national anthems of Kazakhstan and Montenegro were performed during the ceremony, followed by a traditional walk along the carpet to the State Flag of Kazakhstan before the leaders proceeded to closed-door talks.

The upcoming discussions are expected to focus on strengthening political dialogue between the two countries, as well as expanding cooperation in trade, economic ties, investment, and cultural-humanitarian exchanges.

The visit builds on previous engagement between the two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. At the time, President Tokayev described Montenegro as an important partner for Kazakhstan in the Balkan region.

As Kazakhstan and Montenegro prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, both sides have consistently emphasized the development of friendly and mutually beneficial ties over the past two decades.