Astana calling

1. A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ
ISSUE NO. 510 / FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017
Kazakh,ChineseLeadersMark25Years
ofRelationsinAstana
Also InThe News
In Focus:
Foreign Policy Priorities
EXPO2017OpeningContinuesa
HistoricYearforKazakhstan
AstanaisReadytoWelcometheWorld
toEXPO2017andBeyond

2. Kazakh,ChineseLeadersMark25YearsofRelationsinAstana
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President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping
discussed economic cooperation and the 25th anniversary of
relations June 8 during Xi’s official visit to Astana.
The leaders signed a joint statement, a tax exemption agreement
for certain types of income from the Silk Road Fund, an agreement
to cooperate on film production, an agreement to cooperate on the
construction of the Chukurbulak defensive dam in Khorgos and a
memorandum to increase cooperation in transport infrastructure
development.
They also launched the work of a new container service in the
Eurasian space - the Kazakh-Chinese terminal at the port of
Lianyungang (China) and the dry port of the Khorgos - Eastern Gate
special economic zone.
Xi’s visit to Astana preceded the June 8-9 Cooperation Organisation
(SCO) Summit.
“A vivid example of such harmonious work is our cooperation within
the SCO. Tomorrow, we will take part in a historic meeting of the
organisation, which will expand due to the accession of India and
Pakistan. After this meeting, the SCO chair will be rotate to China.
We want to wish you success,” Nazarbayev said, calling China a close
strategic partner.
The Kazakh President also noted increases in bilateral trade and said
coordinating Kazakhstan’s programme Nurly Zhol and China’s One
Belt, One Road initiative also has the potential for success.
“I believe that our all-round dynamic interaction may serve as
example for others. In spite of the positive dynamics, we can not
dwell on this. We have the potential to deepen our cooperation in
the priority areas. Mainly, we have to concentrate on the idea of the
Silk Road, a part of which runs through the territory of Kazakhstan.
Over the past four years, we have built 1,500 kilometres of railways
and 3,000 kilometres of highways. We have two railway and six
automsobile crossings. Thus, Kazakhstan becomes a transit state due
to the development of trade with China,” he said.
Xi thanked Nazarbayev for the warm welcome and noted Astana’s
rapid development.
“Over 20 years, Astana has experienced tremendous changes, which
open up a great future for Kazakhstan. I am convinced that under the
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (centre) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) visiting China’s EXPO 2017 pavilion
leadership of Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan will achieve new successes in
the matter of national revival and construction. During the period of
our cooperation, we have achieved considerable results in all areas.
We have trusted political relations,” Xi said.
“The One Belt, One Road initiative has received wide support all over
the world. This initiative corresponds to the modern general trends of
world processes. In fact, this is our common initiative that meets the
challenges of global economic globalisation,” Xi added.
After the talks, the two Presidents visited China’s EXPO 2017 pavilion
and participated in a programme titled “Kazakhstan and China – The
Transit Bridge of Eurasia.”
“The Chinese exposition is one of the largest at EXPO 2017. China is a
world leader in the field of renewable energy sources. I am confident
that your country’s participation will make a significant contribution
to the development of technologies and cultural ties,” Nazarbayev
said.
The Kazakh President also noted
increases in bilateral trade and
said coordinating Kazakhstan’s
programme Nurly Zhol and China’s
One Belt, One Road initiative also
has the potential for success.

3. EXPO2017OpeningContinuesaHistoricYearforKazakhstan
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Only halfway through 2017, it has already been a year of firsts for
Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In January, Kazakhstan took up its seat
on the United Nations Security Council, the first time a Central Asian
nation has been given such a responsibility. Six months later, Astana
is on the eve of welcoming guests to EXPO 2017, the first time the
international exposition has come to the country and the region.
And in preparing for expo, Astana has created some first-of-its-kind
infrastructure in Central Asia, including its brand-new, six-story,
multitrack Nurly Zhol railway complex, from which high-speed
trains will reach all parts of the country. Then of course, there is the
main expo pavilion, the huge Nur Alem complex that holds many of
Kazakhstan’s exhibits and is the only building in the world shaped like
a sphere.
OntheUNSecurityCouncil,Kazakhstancantakeavitalroleinhelping
shape peace and stability around the world. Through its mediation
efforts with the Iran nuclear talks and now the Astana Process, which
brings together all sides in Syria’s devastating civil war, the country also
hopes to help states in conflict or tension find a path towards peace.
Inmanyways,Kazakhstan’sgoalswithEXPO2017aresimilar.Certainly,
access to energy is a central concern of humanity. It may come as a
surprise that Kazakhstan, so abundant in natural resources, chose the
theme “Future Energy,” for its expo, and that an event in one of the
most oil-rich states in the world is dedicated to renewable power.
But Kazakhstan sees no contradiction between supplying today’s
energy needs while also being committed to the development of
sustainable, clean energy for future generations. Even Kazakhstan’s oil
and gas resources are finite, after all.
This forward-thinking approach to energy and economy is entirely
consistent with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev’s
strategy for Kazakhstan’s growth and development, as well as his
very practical suggestions on the global stage for achieving a more
harmonious world. Indeed, in 2015, Nazarbayev called in the United
Nations General Assembly in 2015 for “a strategy that would eliminate
for good the threat of war and its causes.” A plentiful and sustainable
energy supply in all parts of the world will help create conditions for
peaceful co-existence.
So EXPO 2017 spearheads the international effort to address the
energy challenges of the 21st century, and to ensure that future
generations on our planet can live in peace and prosperity. It’s perhaps
the biggest and most important event to date that has fixed its sights
on how exactly to harness renewable energy sources, bringing nations
from every corner of the world together to discuss one of the most
pressing issues that faces mankind: how to power our future. The
expo will showcase developments from around the world in the field
of renewable energy, including the latest advances in wind power, solar
energy, renewable fuel and clean coal technologies.
As a young and growing country, Kazakhstan has additional hopes for
the event. EXPO 2017 has a major role to play in Kazakhstan’s goal of
becoming one of the world’s top 30 global economies by 2050. Astana
hopes the event will drive the next stage of the country’s industrial
development and diversification.
It is also an opportunity for a relatively unknown country and a new
capital to introduce themselves to the world. EXPO 2017 was a driving
factor in making Kazakhstan one of the New York Times’ “top 52
places to visit in 2017” as it hailed the country’s “earnest transition
from oil state to eco-destination.”
There is much work to be done to make sure humanity has a future
of peace and plenty. But events like expo show that that work can be
done – is being done – in countries like Kazakhstan and others that
keep their eyes on the broad steppe horizon.
But Kazakhstan sees no contradiction
between supplying today’s energy needs
while also being committed to the
development of sustainable, clean energy
for future generations. Even Kazakhstan’s
oil and gas resources are finite, after all.
Astana residents tour the expo site one day before the expo’s official opening

4. AstanaisReadytoWelcometheWorldtoEXPO2017andBeyond
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Authorities in Kazakhstan’s capital city have been working day and
night to prepare it for EXPO 2017, a three-month international event
that is expected to draw some 2 million visitors – far more than
Astana’s population – to the city on the steppe.
The city is ready, Akim (Mayor) of Astana Asset Issekeshev told The
Astana Times in a recent interview. Hotels and apartments capable
of housing 35,000 visitors have opened their doors, he said, and
accommodations have been scouted for the volunteers and students
who will help guests at the expo, as well as seconded law enforcement
personnel. The city’s canteens and restaurants are ready and waiting,
and hundreds of new buses will begin service on shuttle and city
routes, with new stops to take visitors to the city’s most interesting
sights.
But Kazakh hospitality doesn’t end there. All 93 expo days have
entertainment events scheduled, Issekeshev pointed out. Most will
be held within the expo itself, but there will also be 18 international
sport competitions. For guests who don’t speak Russian or Kazakh, in
addition to the expo organisers’ staff, 1,000 city volunteers who speak
foreign languages will help organise events and be on hand at the
airport and railway stations.
“Eight information kiosks with hand-outs, memos and instructions for
tourists in four languages have begun operations. Tourist routes and
audio guides have been prepared in five languages,” the mayor said.
Security – sadly, a pressing issue these days – is well in hand, the mayor
reports. Central government authorities are working in coordination
with law enforcement bodies, dozens of security scenarios have been
workshopped, and a situation centre has been created to coordinate
efforts in the event of any emergency.
“On the territory of the city about 3,000 new cameras were installed,”
Issekeshev noted. “At sites close to the EXPO territory another 2,165
cameras were installed.” Hospitals and first aid checkpoints have also
been set up.
But Astana residents are also looking beyond expo, to the challenges
ofagrowingurbancentre,andsoisthemayor.Hisofficepollsresidents
about what they would like in Astana, and they also get thousands of
suggestions every day through a special phone line, Issekeshev said.
The mayor is also active on social media. “Working in social networks
is the starting point,” he said. “We have interactive platforms for
discussing new innovative projects, including those coming from
residents.”
The city has used this input to adjust its Astana Development
Programme until 2020, “the main goal of which is the social well-being
of the population,” the mayor said.
Improving quality of life and ensuring rising incomes are Issekeshev’s
two main goals for Astana.
To improve Astana’s traffic congestion, the city is investing in public
transport, buying nearly 400 new buses in recent years, building new
roads and adding and lengthening bus routes. A light rail tram is to be
completed in 2019. A ring road, halfway to completion, will allow cars
and trucks to skirt ‘round the city.
Astana is introducing modern traffic management solutions, including
smart traffic lights. It is also looking to international experience in
staggering the schedules of offices, banks, schools and businesses.
Tohelpgenerateincomeandjobsforthegrowingpopulation,onearea
of focus is Astana’s New City Special Economic Zone, which includes
an industrial park and an administrative and business centre. So far, 65
projects are being implemented in the New City.
Astana has also developed a list of 10 priority development sectors:
tourism,construction,finance(withtheAstanaInternationalFinancial
Centre), public services and international organisations, vocational
education, healthcare, trade and logistics, creative sectors, culture
and sports.
These sectors have been targeted for their potential to bring income
and benefits to the young capital.
“In fact, everything is done with a mind to residents,” the mayor says.
Baiterek Tower and Nurzhol Boulevard in the heart of Astana

5. InFocus: Foreign Policy Priorities
“Your task is to provide quality fire safety for all the events and timely
response to possible emergency situations. The proper organisation
of your work will affect the image of our state,” Ilyin told the staff.
A total of 1,218 people, 118 units of equipment and five helicopters
are involved in ensuring safety at the expo. Personnel will be on duty
in three zones: on the expo territory, around the exhibition and on
the perimetre of the capital. Three units of fire equipment and 15
personnel of the firefighting service will be stationed on the territory
of the expo. Volunteers who are fluent in English will also be on duty
in the exhibition’s control room.
The internal ministry’s staff also received English language training.
The CES Kokshetau Technical Institute has developed a Kazakh-
Russian-English phrase booklet for employees involved in the
international exhibition and distributed it among the CES staff.
The duty of the CES staff began June 3. (emer.gov.kz)
Welcoming Investment
Kazakhstan’s oil reserves may rise to 76 billion tonnes
Oil reserves in Kazakhstan may rise up to 76 billion tonnes. According
to geologists, the unexplored deposits in salt domes at a depth of 5
to 12 kilometres contain such a quantity of crude, Kazinform reports.
“Kazakhstan’s reserves equal to 5.5 billion tonnes of oil, as currently
estimated. These are recoverable reserves. In-place reserves amount
to nearly 15 billion tonnes. Most of the large deposits are about 5
km deep, but the geologists believe that there is oil at much deeper
points as well. As a result, the practical forecast resources have been
increased up to 75-76 bn tonnes based on the reassessment of the
deep-lyingformationsoftheCaspianDepressionandtheCaspianSea
shelf, i.e. in salt domes at 5-12 km depth,” President of the Kazakhstan
Association of Petroleum Geologists Baltabek Kuandykov said.
According to Kuandykov, drilling of a superdeep borehole (15 km) will
help confirm these forecasts. An international consortium has been
established to implement the project. (inform.kz)
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Strengthening UN & Int’l Security
Kazakh FM meets UNDP Regional Bureau Director
Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov met June 5 with
UN Commissioner at EXPO 2017, Director of the regional office of
the United Nations Development Programme for Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States Cihan Sultanoglu.
During the meeting, Abdrakhmanov thanked the UN representatives
for their participation in EXPO 2017, the organisation of the UN Day
on June 13 within the expo, which demonstrates the UN’s increased
attention to the exhibition’s theme aimed at implementing the UN
Sustainable Development Goals, providing access to affordable,
reliable and modern energy sources.
The minister also thanked Sultanoglu for the UN’s consistent support
of President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s initiative to create a “Future
Energy” Centre for green technologies and investments to be housed
in the premises of the expo site after the exhibition closes.
“The name of the centre was supported by our foreign partners.
One of the priority directions of this institution is assistance in
the development of less developed countries,” Abdrakhmanov
emphasised.
Sultanoglu praised the dynamics of Kazakhstan’s cooperation
with the UN in the framework of various programmes, including
official development assistance. She also highlighted the project of
Kazakhstan and Japan on supporting women in Afghanistan.
Hosting Astana Expo 2017
300 emergency situation personnel arrive in Astana to ensure
safety at EXPO
A military inspection of the forces and resources of the Committee
for Emergency Situations (CES) of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal
Affairs that will ensure safety at the EXPO 2017 International
Specialised Exhibition took place in Astana June 2.
Three-hundred people and 33 units of equipment arrived from
different regions of Kazakhstan, including firefighters, rescuers,
psychologists, emergency response teams and inspectors of
emergency departments.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Ilyin inspected the readiness
of personnel and equipment.
Back to Contents

6. Also InThe News...
• Nazarbayev attends ALZHIR memorial site, Almaty unveils
monument to famine victims
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev took part May 31 in a
wreath-laying ceremony at the ALZHIR memorial complex of
victims of political repressions and totalitarianism. The same day, a
monument to the 1931-1933 famine victims was unveiled in Almaty.
The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by relatives and friends
of victims of political repressions and totalitarianism. Speaking
before the media after the ceremony, Nazarbayev noted this day’s
special role in Kazakhstan’s history. “On May 31, we commemorate
the Day of National Remembrance and Sorrow for the Victims
of Political Repressions. In Kazakhstan alone, more than 103,000
people were arrested during those years. Twenty-five-thousand
peoplewereshot.ThebestofKazakhintelligentsia,alltheleadership
of the republic was destroyed,” he said. The President noted during
the difficult period, Kazakhstan became home to dozens of ethnic
groups, which, after going through numerous difficulties, have
become one people. The official monument opening ceremony
was attended by descendants of repression and famine victims,
public figures, scientists, activists and youth.Almaty Akim (Mayor)
Bauyrzhan Baibek noted the monument was unveiled by direct
order of the President. According to numerous resources, more
than three million people died in in Kazakhstan from 1918-1933,
including approximately 1.7 million who perished from starvation
in 1931-1933. “Today, on the Day of National Remembrance and
Sorrow for the Victims of Political Repressions, we are opening
a monument for the victims of 1931-1933 famine in order to
perpetuate this lasting pain of our people. On behalf of the head
of state, last year we announced a competition to create a design
of the future memorial. By the decision of the state commission,
the project of Dulat Usenbayev, Aidos Burkitbaev and Kanat
Beguliev, the sculpture named “Ana” (Mother) was selected from
more than 20 proposed works. The image of a mother holding her
child exhausted from hunger reveals all the sorrow of the Kazakh
people. Mother is the origin of life, the foundation of the nation,
the guarantee of the future,” he said. The monument to the famine
victims has been installed in Karagaily Square at the intersection of
Kabanbai Batyr and Nauryzbai Batyr streets. The three-metre-tall
sculpture of a mother pressing her youngster to her breast is made
of bronze and granite. (astanatimes.com)
• Government prepares package to develop special economic
zones
The government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Bakytzhan
Sagintayev considered measures to address the systematic
problems of developing special economic zones (SEZ). Minister
of Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek reported a
number of systemic problems have been identified based on the
results of the analysis of SEZ activities, including the low pace of
infrastructure construction, poor management performance,
problems in applying benefits, long terms for land acquisition
and sectoral restrictions. In order to fill and improve the quality
of projects, a strategy has been created to further develop and fill
each SEZ. A budget programme is to be provided for management
companies under Akimats (city mayor’s) offices in which Akimats
will finance their activities at the initial stage of development; that
is, before filling the critical mass of SEZ investors (three-five years).
SEZ participants’ tax administration will also be optimised in order
to provide tax and other benefits. A bill that will speed up the
decision-making process on new projects not included in priority
activities is also currently in Parliament. A simplified procedure for
obtaining land plots and other permits is also to be implemented.
The country has 10 SEZ in the manufacturing industry with different
sectoral orientations, according to the Ministry of Investments and
Development. The SEZ regime approved forming the Khorgos-
Eastern Gate last-generation logistical cluster, creating railway
engineering in Astana, reviving the textile industry in the Ontustyk
SEZ and laying the foundations for a chemical and petrochemical
cluster in the Chempark Taraz in the city of Taraz, Zhambyl region,
and the National Industrial Petrochemical Technology Park SEZ in
Atyrau, Atyrau region. Today, 154 projects have been launched on
SEZ territories, 651 billion tenge ($2 billion) has been invested and
more than 11,600 jobs have been created. In excess of 107 billion
tenge ($342 million) was returned to the budget in the form of taxes.
For every budget tenge expended for infrastructure, participants
have invested more than two tenge. This year, 24 projects are to be
launched, creating 3,000 new jobs. (primeminister.kz)
• Beautiful Kazakhstan – Beautiful China exhibition unveiled in
Astana
The Beautiful Kazakhstan – Beautiful China photo exhibition was
unveiled June 6 at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana,
reported Kazinform. The event marks 25 years since diplomatic
relations were established between Kazakhstan and China. The
exhibit was organised by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Information and
Communications, the Chinese State Council press service, the
Kazakh Embassy to China and Chinese Embassy to Kazakhstan
with the support of Kazinform international news agency and China
Pictorial. The Chinese side stressed the photo exhibit will help
cement ties between the countries. Thanks to Kazakh and Chinese
photography masters, guests will get the chance to appreciate the
efforts made to strengthen friendship between Astana and Beijing
and see the hopes of the two nations for a brighter future. Vice
Minister of Information and Communications Alan Azhibayev
emphasised the important role Kazinform plays in Central Asia.
“Kazinform has become the first news agency in Central Asia to
publish news in the Chinese language. Today, we have officially
inaugurated the Beautiful Kazakhstan – Beautiful China photo
exhibition that will present the nature and history of Kazakhstan
and China. Such events bring our nations closer,” he said. Kazakh-
Chinese relations have been lifted to a new level thanks to
Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Xi Jinping’s political efforts,
noted Kazinform Director General Askar Umarov.“This photo
exhibition will be our contribution to the process of strengthening
of Kazakhstan-China cooperation,” he added. The exhibition is due
to be held until June 10. (inform.kz)
• BBC shoots film about beauty of Zhetysu
The BBC, which previously made an infomercial about the city
of Almaty, shot a second video about Almaty region intended to
attract foreign tourists to Kazakhstan. Sergey Stanovkin, head of
commercial representatives at BBC Worldwide, posted information
about the effort on Facebook. “For nearly all last summer, we were
shooting several projects in Almaty region of Kazakhstan. We were
surrounded by the beauty I wanted to share with everyone. I am
glad that now we have completed the advertising video about
Almaty region, owing to which we can show to the world what
we saw with our own eyes and walked with our feet through the
boundless steppes, fairy-tale mountains, amazing lakes, refreshing
mountain streams... Pleasant view!” he wrote. (the-steppe.com)
• It’s official: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to host Golovkin-
Canelo fight
The venue for the showdown between middleweight champions
Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez has finally been revealed.
It’s official – GGG and Canelo will clash Sept. 16 at T-Mobile
Arena in Las Vegas, reported Sports.kz. Golden Boy Promotions
CEO Oscar De La Hoya made the announcement June 5 on
SportsCenter. “Everybody wanted this fight and I nailed it down,” he
said, predicting Canelo will knock out GGG. “Everybody who wants
to go to Vegas, have a great time. Watch a great fight with Triple G
and Canelo. I mean it’s going to be a train wreck, let me tell you,”
he added. T-Mobile Arena opened last year and can accommodate
20,000 people. “I did receive an offer for a crazy amount of money,”
De La Hoya told BoxingScene.com, adding the offers from Madison
Square Garden, Jerry Jones and Magic Johnson were amazing.
(sports.kz)
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