Belarus occupies special place among international partners of Kazakhstan - Ambassador

The Republic of Kazakhstan sincerely values the friendship with the Republic of Belarus. Our country highly appreciates the statehood of the Belarusian people, we are confident in the great prospects of our further cooperation. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Belarus Timur Zhaksylykov said this during a festive concert of masters of arts of the Shamsha Kaldayakov Philharmonic of Culture of the Turkestan region, dedicated to the Day of the Republic and the 35th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, writes sb.by.

Timur Zhaksylykov noted that 35 years ago Kazakhstan entered a new historical era of independence, independent choice of its path and responsibility for its future:

- Today we can say with confidence that 35 years of independence is a history of successful state building, large-scale reforms and great achievements of our people. For a relatively short period by historical standards, Kazakhstan has gone from a young republic that faced the most difficult challenges to a strong, authoritative and dynamically developing state. Today, the Republic of Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, an important center of international trade connectivity and investment. But most importantly, Kazakhstan has established itself as an independent state, confident in its own abilities, open to the world and looking to the future. Under the leadership of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, large-scale transformations aimed at building a fair Kazakhstan are continuing.

The diplomat stressed that a historic milestone on this path was the adoption in March of the new Constitution of Kazakhstan. The constitutional reform opened a new stage of state development aimed at improving political institutions, strengthening legal guarantees and expanding the participation of citizens in government.

- Over the years of independence, Kazakhstan has secured the status of an authoritative participant in international dialogue, actively promoting initiatives in the field of peace, disarmament and sustainable development. The voluntary renunciation of the nuclear arsenal has been a historic contribution of our country to strengthening global security and a convincing testimony to its commitment to peace and cooperation. Kazakhstan consistently pursues an independent and balanced foreign policy based on the principles of openness, pragmatism and the supremacy of international law. We strive to develop constructive and mutually beneficial relations with all states, based on our national interests, mutual respect and trust. In the context of growing international tensions, Kazakhstan has consistently advocated the peaceful settlement of conflicts, dialogue and the development of pragmatic cooperation.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan drew attention to the fact that Belarus occupies a special place among the international partners of Kazakhstan. Relations between our countries are based on long-term friendship, mutual respect, a high level of trust and are strategic in nature.

- This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belarus, which laid a solid foundation for our relations. Over the 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, our countries have built a strong and multifaceted partnership covering almost all areas of interaction. Our trade and economic relations are developing particularly dynamically – last year mutual trade grew by almost 30 percent and exceeded $1.2 billion. This positive trend continues this year. In 8 months, our trade grew by another 20 percent. We consistently develop industrial cooperation, implement joint projects, strengthen cooperation in the field of culture, science and education. Our relations are especially valued by the strong human ties that have united our peoples for decades.

Timur Zhaksylykov also noted that independence allowed Kazakhstan not only to build a modern state, but also to preserve, reveal and present to the world the richest historical and cultural heritage of the Kazakh people.

- In honor of the significant dates that we celebrate this year, we specially invited artists from the ancient city of Turkestan, one of the most important historical and spiritual centers of Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region, to Minsk. The history of Turkestan dates back to the V-VI century AD. Located on the Silk Road, this city has been a center of trade, science and cultural life for centuries. In the XVI-XVIII centuries, Turkestan was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate, and today it is considered the spiritual capital of the Turkic world and one of the main centers of pilgrimage in Central Asia. Here is the famous mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, the ensemble and soloists of the Shamshi Kaldayakov Turkestan Regional Philharmonic will present to your attention a concert program, which will feature expressive instrumental compositions, famous works of Kazakh classics and popular retro and pop songs. May tonight give you vivid impressions and become another evidence of friendship and mutual respect between our peoples, the diplomat concluded. Belarus, Kazakhstan actively work to deepen cooperation and increase trade turnover