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Kazakh-German Strategic Cooperation

Kazakhstan is 'anchor of stability' in Eurasia

 

On July 2, 2013 Astana will host the sixth meeting of the Eurasian Club of Berlin on the issues of the Kazakh-German partnership in fields of raw materials, industry and technology as well as dual education system introduction Kazakhstan. The meeting will be attended by Michael Glos, the Deputy of the German Bundestag and the former German Federal Minister of Economics, Eberhard Sandschneider, the head of the German Society for Foreign Policy and prominent experts.

 

Berlin Eurasian Club was established in the light of Nursultan Nazarbayev's idea realization relating to Eurasianism and "Path to Europe"state program acting as an interactive platform for discussion of a wide range of social and political issues between Kazakhstan and Germany as well as the EU. The club is the first Kazakhstani project of this kind in Europe aiming at exploring new opportunities to strengthen dialogue between the European and Asian cultures.

 

Kazakh-German trade turnover to reach EURO 10 bln

 

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany Nurlan Onzhanov, speaking at the fifth session of the Kazakh-German Strategic Cooperation Business Council, announced that Kazakhstan and Germany trade turnover will reach Euro 10 bilion.

 

In turn, Chief Executive Officer of the Central and Eastern Europe Region of Deutsche Bank AG Mr. Peter Tils confirmed the German investors' interest in Kazkahstan's market.

 

"Keeping in mind development of our foreign trade, I suppose Kazakhstan strides forward confidently. The investment policy of Kazakhstan is developing quite actively and progressively, which will serve to attract an increasing number of investments from Germany," P.Tils noted.

 

During the meeting, the sides discussed in detail issues of implementation of 12 joint projects carried out within the framework of the intergovernmental agreement on partnership in raw materials, industrial and technological fields. The participants of the meeting also considered issues of cooperation in the field of "green technology" and energy efficiency in the context of the International specialized exhibition "EXPO-2017".

 

Heads of Kazakhstani regions led by Vice Minister of Regional Development Serik Zhumangarin paid a working visit to Germany on 23-26 June within the development of Kazakh-German interregional cooperation.

 

The delegation consisted of nearly 40 akims and deputy akims of regions, cities and districts of Kazakhstan. The goal of the working trip was to explore Germany's experience in the development and reconstruction of single-industry cities. Leinefelde-Worbis in northwestern Thuringia, in particular.

 

During the negotiations with mayor of Leinefelde-Worbis Gerd Reinhardt, the sides noted the relevance of such visits and talks in terms of sustainable development of interregional cooperation and exchange of experience in the field of territorial development.

 

A project on modernization of old city blocks, taking into account modern standards of efficient use of resources, requirements to energy efficiency and environmental standards as well as large-scale implementation of renewable energy resources, was demonstrated by German experts. Diversification of regional branches of economy, widening of service industry and creating new jobs, modernization of city infrastructure and legal and financial aspects of single-industry cities' restructuring was in the focus of the meeting as well.

 

Kazakhstan is 'anchor of stability' in Eurasia - German expert

 

Kazakhstan under the leadership of President Nursultan Nazarbayev has risen from the ranks of young nation to an authoritative regional state. Diplomatic relations with 138 world countries have been established. Signing of over three thousands of interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements have become the result of interaction with foreign states and international organizations. Virtually all of them were signed in Astana.

 

Principles of multi-vector foreign policy, set by the President of Kazakhstan, confirmed their substantiality and became single basis of Kazakhstan's interaction with international communities.

 

German expert from Berlin Center for Caspian Region Studies of the Freie Universität Matthias Dornfeld talked about his vision of Kazakhstan's progress in foreign policy in the interview with Kazinform correspondent.

 

According to him, one of the significant achievements of Kazakhstan is chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. Kazakhstan became the first country of the CIS and CA Region that chaired this authoritative structure.

 

During the chairmanship in the OSCE Kazakhstan took an active role in the normalization of the situation in Kyrgyzstan during the events of April 2010, thus proving once again its leading role in the Central Asian region.

 

According to the German expert, as an international mediator in the crisis Kazakhstan is a role model, having a unique experience of inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony. "The Central Asian republic is home to more than 130 ethnic groups. More than 16 million people belong to 42 denominations. Despite many different religions in the country, there is no tension among them, " M.Dornfeld informed.

 

Besides, M. Dornfeld noted Kazakhstan chaired the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from June 2010 till June 2011. Afterwards, Kazakhstan became the chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

 

According to M. Dornfeld, despite a relatively short period of presidency in OIC, Kazakhstan, having a solid foreign policy and economic progress, including the leadership of the OSCE, as well as being a factor of regional stability, initiated the reform and strengthened the international role of the OIC.

 

The German expert also noted during the chairmanship in the OSCE in 2010, international partners of Kazakhstan pointed out the significant contribution of the country to the global nuclear disarmament.

 

By the initiative of Kazakhstan, the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty- also known as the Treaty of Semipalatinsk was signed on 8 September 2006 at Semipalatinsk Test Site (Kazakhstan).

 

Continuing this theme, it its necessary to mention that Astana hosted the International Conference on Nuclear  Disarmament  in August 2012. "The global anti-nuclear initiatives of President Nursultan Nazarbayev are highly praised by the world community. It is proved by the fact that some 80 international delegations took part in the conference.

 

"Representatives of political and diplomatic circles suggest that future global security is not in the nuclear weapons, but in the active foreign policy, peaceful co-existence of nations, economic cooperation between countries," Matthias Dornfeld emphasized.

 

In addition, according to the German expert, Kazakhstan is an important partner of Germany in Central Asia. Bilateral relations between the two countries are developing very fruitfully. Meetings between the leaders of the two countries take place on a regular basis.

 

In whole, according to the German expert, 'Kazakhstan is not only an important partner for Germany, but also - in the age of globalization - the anchor of stability in Eurasia.'

 

World media monitoring

 

28.06.2013