ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met July 3 with the heads diplomatic missions and representations of international organisations accredited in the country. The meeting, which also included top officials of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service.
“In the first years of independence, we had no experience interacting with the other countries. Kazakhstan did not have its diplomatic service. There was an acute shortage of diplomatic personnel,” he said.
Nazarbayev recalled that those problems were accompanied by a complex socio-economic situation in the country.
“In a short period of time, we have created our diplomatic corps and began to send our diplomats to foreign states. After a quarter of a century, I can say that the domestic foreign policy has been formed,” he underlined.
The President noted that during the first years of independence, Kazakhstan managed to preserve its territorial integrity and national independence, as well as create strong guarantees of security.
“Today, Astana plays a leading role in the international anti-nuclear movement and significantly contributes to ensuring strategic stability and justice in the world,” he stressed.
In addition, Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan is the initiator of projects within the framework of regional economic integration and cooperation.
“In general, Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy, as well as our international initiatives have found wide support and fame throughout the world,” he noted.
Nazarbayev also spoke of Kazakhstan’s friendly relations with the outside world.
“Over the years of independence, Kazakhstan has built friendly and constructive relations with all our closest neighbours and all those who are interested in developing cooperation with us,” Nazarbayev said.
“We established diplomatic relations with 182 states. Kazakhstan has 57 embassies and 31 diplomatic institutions abroad. In the country, there are 95 foreign embassies and representative offices of international organisations,” he added.
Nazarbayev also noted Kazakhstan’s priority countries for cooperation.
According to the head of state, Kazakhstan and Russia carry out its relations in the framework of the Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness and Alliance in the 21st Century, as well as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Strategic cooperation with China is developing constructively, he told. The two countries are implementing large-scale economic projects, ensuring the development of transit connections by linking Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol state programme and Chinese initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Today Central Asia is experiencing a new stage of development, Nazarbayev said, adding that close attention is paid to joint work with the Central Asian countries with a focus on common historical, cultural, linguistic roots.
Together with this, the course to strengthen the strategic partnership with the U.S. and the new administration of the White House will be continued. Multilateral relations with the European Union, Kazakhstan’s largest trade, economic and investment partner, will be developed further.
Kazakhstan will also continue to cooperate with post-Soviet countries and Turkey. Kazakhstan supports the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme and the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan. Friendly relations with the countries of the Middle East are also of great importance.
In Nazarbayev’s words, Kazakhstan intends to strengthen the Asian vector of foreign policy with a focus on trade, economic, investment and technological cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s relations with Latin American and Caribbean partners will continue to be developed.
In addition, Nazarbayev stressed the significance of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with global and regional international organisations.
In conclusion, Nazarbayev emphasised that this year Kazakhstan celebrates the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the majority of foreign states. In this regard, he congratulated the diplomatic corps and wished them success.
“Today, we meet on the eve of a very bright and beloved by Kazakh people and myself holiday, the Day of Astana. You can see how quickly Astana became a pride of all the people in Kazakhstan. Participation of numerous delegations, guests and tourists in EXPO 2017 makes our capital more recognisable in the world,” he said.
