Nazarbayev Discusses Business, Global Security in Japan Visit; Nazarbayev Meets Korean President, Business Leaders in Seoul; Pianist Jania Aubakirova Says Success Comes from Hard Work

1. A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ
ISSUE NO. 482 / FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
NazarbayevDiscussesBusiness,Global
SecurityinJapanVisit
Also InThe News
In Focus:
Foreign Policy Priorities
NazarbayevMeetsKoreanPresident,
BusinessLeadersinSeoul
PianistJaniaAubakirovaSaysSuccess
ComesfromHardWork

2. NazarbayevDiscussesBusiness,GlobalSecurityinJapanVisit
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Astana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 482/ 2 Back to Contents
Seeking to build upon the significant political and economic ties that
have developed between the countries, Kazakh President Nursultan
Nazarbayev paid an official visit Nov. 6-9 to Japan. The nation
was one of the first to voice its support a quarter-century ago for
Kazakhstan’s independence and enhancing the friendly partnership
was among the head of state’s main goals.
The trip to Tokyo, which included sessions with Japan’s government
and business leaders, began with Emperor Akihito. Japan has
distinguished itself in resolving global conflicts and facilitating
sustainable regional development, notably its participation in the
Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and the
nations maintain similar stances on international security, nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation. As a leader of the state that is a
2017-2018 non-permanent member of the United Nations Security
Council, Nazarbayev noted Kazakhstan would continue making
steps towards building a nuclear weapons-free world and seeking
resolutions about energy, food and water security issues.
Nazarbayev continued the dialogue with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,
with the latter noting the countries will be coordinating efforts as co-
chairs of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Their talks then moved to political, trade, economic, cultural and
humanitarian matters, with the President stressing the need to
“continue active political dialogue, increase contacts at all levels,
ensure security of the region and collectively work against the
challenges of the modern world.” Kazakhstan is Japan’s largest trade
and economic partner in Central Asia, with a mutual trade turnover
last year of $1.5 billion, and both sides are anxious to build upon that
base in this and other areas.
“We have a potential to increase this figure and will steadily expand
the horizons of cooperation in the fields of high technologies,
agriculture, nuclear power, automotive and the steel industry,” said
Nazarbayev.
As a result, joint statements and memoranda of understanding were
signed regarding strategic partnerships, investment, development
and tourism and Japan’s participation in EXPO 2017, the Astana
International Financial Centre and Japan Securities Dealers
Association.
SimilardomesticandinternationaltopicswereaddressedwithForeign
Minister Fumio Kishida. Nazarbayev’s planned visit to Hiroshima
President Nazarbayev speaking to the Japanese Parliament
crystalised his country’s commitment to stand with Japan as leaders
in the anti-nuclear movement.
“We are working together on building the world without nuclear
weapons in the 21st century,” he said.
The President also met with members of the Kazakhstan-Japan
Friendship Parliamentary League. He expressed his appreciation
for the association’s crucial contributions in solidifying the nations’
partnership.
“Next year, we will celebrate 25 years since the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Japan and Kazakhstan. In addition,
EXPO 2017 will take place in Astana. We would like to use these
events to strengthen inter-parliamentary exchanges,” said league
chairman Takeo Kawamura.
The trip turned to business as the delegation participated remotely
to launch the Tokyo Rope plant in Almaty. The facility will fabricate a
variety of metal products including heavy-duty grids and is projected
in its first phase to produce 5,000 tonnes annually to be used in
Kazakhstan and supplied to Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) and other markets.
Nazarbayev also greeted Kazakh students enrolled in Tokai
University, one of Japan’s leading research institutes. He was
awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Science by President
Yamada Kiyoshi, who noted the degree highlighted Kazakhstan has
modernised and developed scientific and educational services in
accordance with international standards. The head of state noted the
partnership established with his namesake university.
“Today,Astanahasbecomeoneofthelargestresearchandeducation
centres in Eurasia. We are attracting young people to study at our
university and hope Japanese youth will join it,” he said.
The President addressed Parliament, speaking about Kazakh
measures to strengthen international security and the importance of
joint efforts to build a world free from nuclear threat.
“We see an important task in the establishment of a global anti-
nuclear movement. That is exactly the goal promoted by The ATOM
Project proposed by our country. I invite our Japanese friends to
support this initiative,” he said.

3. NazarbayevMeetsKoreanPresident,BusinessLeadersinSeoul
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On his latest state visit to South Korea Nov. 9-11, President of
Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev met South Korean President Park
Geun-hye, spoke with Korean business circles and visited symbolic
sites.
On the agenda for his talks with Park were possibilities for economic,
financial, investment, transport, communications, scientific and
technical cooperation. The two also discussed nuclear disarmament
and nonproliferation, cyber security and other current regional and
international issues, with Park expressing the hope that Kazakhstan’s
anti-nuclear initiatives would receive more attention due to the
country’s nonpermanent membership on the UN Security Council
starting next year, according to Akorda.
The leaders agreed that trade and bilateral relations in general should
be ramped up. Park commented that relations between the two
countries were developing quickly and that she was pleased to be
able to meet Nazarbayev as the countries mark 25 years since the
establishment of their diplomatic relations.
There is major interest in South Korea in cooperating with Kazakhstan
on transit and transport projects, Park reported. Nazarbayev noted
that Kazakhstan’s terminal at the port of Lianyungang on the Pacific
coast of China has been completed.
“The terminal already transported about 1 million containers,” he said.
“Also, there was built a railway connecting the Khorgos Dry Port with
the sea port of Aktau on the Caspian Sea, as well as a railway through
Turkmenistan and Iran to the Persian Gulf. All of these directions
could be used by Korean businesses.”
Thepartiessignedanumberofdocuments,includingajointdeclaration
ondeepeningthestrategicpartnership;ajointplanofactionsbetween
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Investment and Development (MID)
and the Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy; and a
memorandum between the MID and the Korean Ministry of Land,
InfrastructureandTransportonsupportinginvestmentandinnovative
projects in transport.
Nazarbayev went on to meet with representatives of major Korean
companies. South Korea is one of Kazakhstan’s key partners in East
Asia, the President stressed. Promising areas for more cooperation are
energy, agriculture, engineering, construction, finance, investment,
and, of course, transport and logistics, he said.
“We consistently improve our investment climate and business
environment. The state programme on industrial-innovative
development is being implemented. Investors of priority sectors
receive tax breaks, and there are special measures of support for small
and medium-sized businesses,” Nazarbayev said.
There are 465 joint ventures with South Korean capital operating in
Kazakhstan,Nazarbayevnoted.Overthelastthreeyears,14investment
projects worth more than $160 million have been implemented; since
Kazakhstan’s independence, South Korea has invested about $9
billion into the country.
“We are ready to cooperate with Korean companies in all economy
sectors. I hope that today’s meeting will mark the opportunities and
prospectsofmutuallybeneficialcooperationbetweenbusinesscircles
of our countries,” Nazarbayev said.
The President also reminded the business representatives that
investing in Kazakhstan is even easier with the new visa-free regime
that country has introduced and direct flights between the two
nations, and invited Korean companies to participate in EXPO 2017
in Astana.
Following the talks, Nazarbayev laid flowers at the War Memorial of
Koreaandleftanoteinitsguestbook.HealsovisitedYonseiUniversity
of Korea
The leaders agreed that trade and
bilateral relations in general should
be ramped up. Park commented that
relations between the two countries
were developing quickly and that
she was pleased to be able to meet
Nazarbayev as the countries mark
25 years since the establishment of
their diplomatic relations.
Kazakh delegation during recent talks in Seoul

4. PianistZhaniyaAubakirovaSaysSuccessComesfromHardWork
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Pianist Zhaniya Aubakirova chose to stay in Kazakhstan at a time
when musicians were fleeing Soviet control and then the hardships of
the Soviet collapse. In a recent interview, she says opportunities are
not geographic, but come from hard work.
“I come from a traditional Kazakh environment; for me, my parents’
health and living with them and my relatives is essential,” she said.
“None of them thought of any special career as a concert pianist for
me. Piano stars seemed to live on some other planet, not accessible to
ordinary mortals.”
At first, she played the piano out of sheer delight in the process of
expressing the messages of great composers through the black and
whitekeys.Butsoon,herloveofmusicbegantobearprofessionalfruit.
“In 1983, I successfully participated in the Long–Thibaud (since 2011
– Long-Thibaud-Crespin) International Piano Competition in Paris,
which helped me see performance a new way. My self-confidence
grew, I gained admirers and I began tours to many countries. In short,
my life changed incredibly. Over the next five years, I gave with great
pleasure concerts in France, Japan, Finland, Czechoslovakia and
Bulgaria. However, there were terrible concerts across the USSR, the
whole atmosphere was saturated with politics. Many Moscow artists
at that time were leaving the country.”
But Aubakirova stuck around and weathered the hard early days of
independence. “My happiness is that I overcame the difficulties of
the 1990s … relatively well. Those times saw the joyful moments in my
life – marriage and family, the birth of children. Those difficult years,
everybody was scared to see even a year ahead, especially for people
involvedinculture:itseemedthattherewouldbenoconcerts,nothing
associated with the previous ideals and advantages of the profession.”
Not by accident, she began looking for other professional avenues.
“The idea of creating a new type of school was supported by President
Nursultan Nazarbayev. As in any new business, there were many
organisational difficulties. However, the result was worth it – a private
educational institution that has now lasted 20 years.”
Now, she can see that the school was truly necessary, and has
supported some truly great students.
“We have good opportunities for young artists. For example, at the
conservatory, students have excellent chances, if they wish, to go
abroad to continue their studies and internships, to participate in
competitions, to perform on the best stages in the world,” the pianist
Jania Aubakirova
explained. “In recent years, they have significantly increased their self-
esteembysuccessfullyperforminginmanyinternationalcompetitions,
conquering world scenes such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre,
Barbicanhall, Konzerthaus and the Berliner Philharmonie.”
However, though the country has emerged from the shadow of the
90s, opportunity does not necessarily create success.
“When a young artist faces such great possibilities, it may create
illusions that anyone can find their place and claim success, but the
truthisthatthesepossibilitiesofferedbythegovernmentandbusiness
community can be a springboard for the professional growth of only
those who are truly hardworking,” Aubakirova said. “I have thought a
lot about this, comparing the position of those who remained in the
country with those who went abroad looking for a better life. In fact,
both of them have experienced a lot of difficulties. Even under the
same conditions, some of them managed to prove their talent and
reach the heights of their career. Others, unfortunately, failed.”
Success doesn’t depend on where you are, the pianist concluded.
“Much depends on character, on the ability to understand and accept
this world, and simply on personal qualities. In any country, regardless
of its traditions, smart, talented and charismatic personalities are in
demand.”
“I come from a traditional Kazakh
environment; for me, my parents’
health and living with them and my
relativesisessential,”shesaid.“None
ofthemthoughtofanyspecialcareer
as a concert pianist for me. Piano
stars seemed to live on some other
planet, not accessible to ordinary
mortals.”

5. InFocus: Foreign Policy Priorities
in renewable energy in EXPO 2017. Zhoshybayev also met with
Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol,
who expressed readiness to take part in the UNECE Ministerial
Conference on energy within EXPO 2017. Zhoshybayev and Minister
of Climate and Environment of Norway Vidar Helgesen discussed
relevant issues of environmental protection and climate change
challenges, as well as participation of Norwegian companies in the
exhibition. The seventh NYT energy for tomorrow conference
brought together over 300 influential politicians, business people,
experts in traditional and renewable energy, as well as in environment.
Welcoming Investment
Kazatomprom to invest in South Kazakhstan
Kazatomprom JSC Board Chairman Askar Zhumagaliyev announced
the state-owned uranium-mining company’s plans to invest in the
South Kazakhstan region during a meeting with regional governor
Zhanseit Tuymebayev as part of a visit to Suzak district.“I recently
had a meeting with the Head of State. The national company has
committed itself to economic diversification and privatisation. We
passed 27 subordinate companies of Kazatomprom into private
ownership. As a result of the transformation, in the current year we
have saved 17 billion tenge (US$49.8 million). It is planned to save
136 billion tenge (US$398.7 million) until 2025. However, for the
socio-economic development of the South Kazakhstan region,
we will allocate 79 billion tenge (US$231.6 million) until 2025. For
the construction of new social facilities, 800 million tenge (US$2.3
million) was already allocated. An additional 800 million tenge
(US$2.3 million) will be allocated by the end of the year,” he said.
Zhumagaliyev also talked about the role of the enterprise in the
socio-economic development of the region and facilities built with
the participation of the national atomic operator for the import and
export of uranium, rare metals and nuclear fuel for nuclear power
plants. “During the visit to the company and the field, I saw that the
production uses the newest technology of the last generation. We
will continue our work in cooperation with the national company.
Kazatomprom contributes significantly to the promotion of the
region’s economy. New enterprises were opened in Sholak Kurgan,
where the products are being manufactured. Seventy percent of
the companies’ employees, of which 7,000 people are locals, are
residents of Suzak district. We need to improve such cooperation,”
said Tuymebayev. (inform.kz)
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Strengthening UN & Int’l Security
Kazakhstan’s Permanent SCO Delegate speaks at SCO
symposium
Yerik Ashimov, Kazakhstan’s permanent delegate to the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretariat, spoke about the
priorities and plans of his country’s chairmanship at a Nov. 3
symposium in Beijing. He focused particularly on the nation’s attitude
towards counterterrorism efforts at an event devoted to SCO’s 15th
anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the SCO Studies Centre. “We
need to make maximum efforts to ensure effective implementation
of the SCO Programme on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and
Extremism for 2016-2018 and to maintain regional security and
stability. In recent years, internet use has increased significantly
to spread propaganda of extremist ideas. Therefore, it seems very
important to approve the SCO convention aimed at combating
extremism as soon as possible,” said Ashimov. He added Kazakhstan
is deeply concerned about drug trafficking and the spread of new
types of psychoactive substances. “We shall pay particular attention
to the coordination of the SCO anti-drug strategy and the action
programme for its implementation,” he said. This year, the Kazakh
diplomats joined with the SCO Secretariat to adopt the action
plan for 2016-2017 to enhance the organisation’s authority in the
world. “Kazakhstan encourages member states to agree on the
memorandum of understanding between the SCO and regional
international organisations on unconditional principles in the policy
of combating international terrorism. The memorandum will expand
the legal framework of the SCO and advocate for political principles
of struggle against international terrorism,” Ashimov said.
Hosting Astana Expo 2017
Paris hosts New York Times Energy for Tomorrow conference
Paris hosted Nov. 3-4 the conference “New York Times Energy for
Tomorrow” aimed at directing the attention of the world political
and business elite to energy challenge and environmental protection.
The conference is an official event within the upcoming UN
Climate Conference (COP 22) in Marrakesh (Morocco). EXPO
2017 Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev and Kazakh Ambassador to
France Nurlan Danenov represented Kazakhstan. On the sidelines
of the conference, Zhoshybayev met with the COP 21 President,
French Minister of Environment, Energy and the Sea Segolene Royal,
who welcomed that the theme of EXPO 2017 corresponds with the
COP 21 ideas. During the talks with the Kazakh delegation, OECD
Secretary General Ángel Gurría praised the decision of Astana to
introduce visa-free regime for organisation member states in 2017.
He also noted that the OECD would present interesting initiatives
Back to Contents

6. Also InThe News...
• New land and housing development programme to be launched
The Nurly Zher (Bright soil) land and housing development
programme will be launched in 2017. One and a half million
residents of Kazakhstan will be able to get housing until 2031 and
the mortgage interest rate will be lowered to 10 percent as part of
this initiative. “In line with the concept, the primary goal of the Nurly
Zher Programme is the transition from direct housing construction
financing to mortgage lending development and the stimulation
of private constructors,” said Chairman of the Construction and
Housing and Communal Services Committee of the National
Economy Ministry Markhabat Zhaiymbetov. The programme
envisions that up to 664,000 sites of land on 10 acres will be used for
individual housing construction. Some 35,000 apartments for rent
and 280,000 apartments will be provided through the Kazakhstan
Mortgage Company and Kazakhstan House Construction Savings
Bank, and private companies for mortgage loans will construct
521,000 apartments. As of Sept.1, about 2.3 million people are in
need of housing, including 400,000 people on a waiting list and
700,000 depositors of the House Construction Savings Bank. More
than 1 million people are on a waiting list to receive 10 acres of land.
The number of House Construction Savings Bank depositors
increased from 430,000 to 709,000 compared to 2014. Payment
for 316,000 depositors was provided to maintain liquidity in the
Construction Savings Bank system. (astanatimes.com)
• Astana joins world’s top 21 intelligent communities
The capital of Kazakhstan has entered the world’s top 21 intelligent
communities according to the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF).
The Smart21 Communities of 2017 comprises seven cities and
counties in Canada, five cities and counties in Taiwan, four cities
in Australia and one city each in New Zealand, Russia, the United
Kingdom and the United States. The select group of communities,
which emerged from a list of nearly 400, will now compete for a
place in the Intelligent Community Top Seven, to be announced in
Taipei, Taiwan, in February. One of the seven will then be named
Intelligent Community of the Year at the Intelligent Community
summit and awards dinner June 8 in New York. This year’s list of
smart cities was chosen by a group of analysts led by Norman
Jacknis, former head of Cisco, the world’s largest IT company. ICF
co-founder John Jung noted that the list included communities
using digital tools to build the local economy and society in an age
of digital inequality. “We find that it is the ones who collaborate
with national or state governments, fly under the radar and are ‘no
name’ communities to most of the world that are most innovative
and aggressive,” he said. “They are not afraid of new ideas and use
strategies proven by intelligent communities around the world.
They are places that the rest of the world can learn from and offer
hope to people who are fighting hard to launch a new future and
create early stage investment opportunities to the outside world,”
he added. ICF previously named the capital among the world’s top
21 smart cities at the ICF Smart21 symposium in Ohio, USA in 2014
(astana.gov.kz)
• Bahrain to build sport facility for the disabled in Kazakhstan
Ambassadors’ Spouses Astana (ASA) is preparing for this year’s
Christmas Charity Bazaar at the Radisson Hotel in Astana Dec. 4.
Today, the Christmas Charity Bazaar is one of the most anticipated
events of the year. It is organised by eight committees and 22
spouses of different foreign ambassadors. This year, according
to Heba Osman, president of the ASA and wife of the Egyptian
ambassador to Kazakhstan, 53 embassies have signed up to take
part in the charity event, offering their valuables as raffle prizes.
“During [the bazaar] we will have a Grand Raffle Lottery,” Osman
said. “The embassies assisted us in getting, so far, 12 grand prizes,
through providing airline tickets and travel packages to 12 different
excitingdestinations,such as Paris, Egypt, Estonia, Spain, Italy,Saudi
Arabia, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Macedonia and tickets from
KLM to Amsterdam. And we are expecting more to come.” The
bazaar also offers Astana residents a chance to find souvenirs or
special goods from all over the world. This year, The ATOM Project
has also volunteered to commission from its famous Honorary
Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov a painting that will be sold at the
bazaar with the proceeds to be also directed to charity. All funds
raised at the event go to support charitable projects in Kazakhstan,
according to chair of the Charity Committee, spouse of Belarus’s
ambassador in Kazakhstan Yulia Nichkassova. Last year the event
raised 27,171,461 tenge (US$80,481) and the ASA carried out 46
charitable projects in different parts of the country. The funds were
sent to children’s homes, sanatoriums and special correctional
boarding schools for children with disabilities and were spent on
clothes, medicine, medical equipment, therapies, food and more.
(astanatimes.com)
• Preparations underway for Christmas Charity Ball
Ambassadors’ Spouses Astana (ASA) is preparing for this year’s
Christmas Charity Bazaar at the Radisson Hotel in Astana Dec. 4.
Today, the Christmas Charity Bazaar is one of the most anticipated
events of the year. It is organised by eight committees and 22
spouses of different foreign ambassadors. This year, according
to Heba Osman, president of the ASA and wife of the Egyptian
ambassador to Kazakhstan, 53 embassies have signed up to take
part in the charity event, offering their valuables as raffle prizes.
“During [the bazaar] we will have a Grand Raffle Lottery,” Osman
said. “The embassies assisted us in getting, so far, 12 grand prizes,
through providing airline tickets and travel packages to 12 different
excitingdestinations,suchasParis,Egypt,Estonia,Spain,Italy,Saudi
Arabia, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Macedonia and tickets from
KLM to Amsterdam. And we are expecting more to come.” The
bazaar also offers Astana residents a chance to find souvenirs or
special goods from all over the world. This year, The ATOM Project
has also volunteered to commission from its famous Honorary
Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov a painting that will be sold at the
bazaar with the proceeds to be also directed to charity. All funds
raised at the event go to support charitable projects in Kazakhstan,
according to chair of the Charity Committee, spouse of Belarus’s
ambassador in Kazakhstan Yulia Nichkassova. Last year the event
raised 27,171,461 tenge (US$80,481) and the ASA carried out 46
charitable projects in different parts of the country. The funds were
sent to children’s homes, sanatoriums and special correctional
boarding schools for children with disabilities and were spent on
clothes, medicine, medical equipment, therapies, food and more.
(astanatimes.com)
• Films from Kazakhstan screened at Barcelona festival
The screening of the animated film “Kazakh Eli” (2016) and several
other historic and dramatic movies from Kazakhstan is underway
at the Casa Asia Film Festival in Barcelona. “It is really pleasant to
me as a director that the world premiere of the film will take place
in Spain. First of all, we were making our cartoon for children, to
explain to them how our state was created in an accessible and
interesting way. I believe that getting to know the rich history of
our country will be interesting for the Spanish audience, too,” said
director Batyrkhan Daurenbekov. About 80 movies from 20 Asian
countries are being presented to viewers between Nov. 4 –13. Films
from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are competing
with “Kazakh Eli” in the festival’s Panorama category. Historical
films such as “Amanat” and “Kunanbai” from directors Satybaldy
Narymbetov and Doskhan Zholzhaksynov, Askar Uzabayev’s
“Zhol” and Murat Makhanov’s “Court Executor” dramas are also
being screened at the festival. “Kazakh Eli” (Kazakh Land) shows
the childhood and early lives of Zhanibek and Kerei, the khans who
founded the Kazakh Khanate 550 years ago. The film, released in
May, was produced by SAK-Dala Studio. (astanatimes.com)
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