President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa continued his state visit to Kazakhstan with a courtesy call from Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations during this meeting. President Khurelsukh expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between both parliaments. The State Great Khural of Mongolia and the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan have seen active engagement recently. This parliamentary cooperation has strengthened significantly over the past few years.
President Khurelsukh emphasized that inter parliamentary cooperation plays a vital role in expanding the strategic partnership. It also helps strengthen political trust between both nations. Parliaments lead the adoption of legislation for trade and economic cooperation. They also create favorable environments for investment through their legislative work. Therefore, enhancing collaboration between friendship groups remains critically important. Standing committees and parliamentary secretariats should also deepen their cooperation.
The President invited Kazakh female members of parliament to attend a conference in Ulaanbaatar. The World Women Parliamentarians’ Conference will take place this October under his auspices. President Khurelsukh also congratulated Kazakhstan on organizing its national referendum successfully. The new Constitution marks a new stage of development for the country. He wished success to the future Kurultai, the new legislative body. This body will form under the revised Constitution soon.
Chairman Yerlan Koshanov is a mechanical engineer and economist by profession. He has served as Chairman of the Mazhilis since 2022. He also became Chairman of the ruling Amanat Party in the same year. Kazakhstan’s Parliament currently consists of two separate chambers. The Senate serves as the upper house with 50 members. The Mazhilis functions as the lower house with 98 seats.
Senators serve five year terms with half renewed every three years. Forty senators are elected by local representative bodies. The President appoints the remaining ten senators. Five of those appointees come from the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. The Mazhilis uses a mixed electoral system for its 98 seats. Seventy percent of members come from proportional representation by party lists. The remaining 30 percent are elected through a majoritarian system in single member constituencies. All Mazhilis members serve five year terms.
A major constitutional change will take effect this July. The bicameral parliament will be abolished under the new Constitution. A unicameral legislature called the Kurultai will replace it entirely. The Kurultai will consist of 154 members. This parliamentary cooperation between Mongolia and Kazakhstan may face new dynamics. Both countries will need to adapt their inter parliamentary exchanges accordingly. The ongoing state visit continues until April 23 with more meetings scheduled. Future cooperation will likely focus on the new unicameral structure in Kazakhstan.
