Central Asian Leaders Discuss Regional Challenges in Astana

0° / -1°C WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018 No 6 (144) www.astanatimes.com Nauryz unites Kazakhstan in celebration Nazarbayev pays surprise traditional sport competition. The children mostly liked the ethnic village. No one was bored,” Asta- na resident Zhamilya Bayazitova visit to Samarkand, told The Astana Times. The traditional and symbolic holiday dish, Nauryz kozhe, meets with Mirziyoyev was prepared in an enormous taikazan (a type of cooking pot) with a capacity of 1,000 litres. Nauryz kozhe consists of seven components, a number that symbolises the seven days of the week and seven virtues. Tra- ditionally, everyone should visit seven houses and invite seven guests to their home on the holiday. Guests were also offered other traditional Kazakh and Central Asian dishes in a food court. In the past, perhaps the biggest sensation was a performance by Photo credit: madeniet.astana.kz. Photo credit: legendary Kazakh wrestler and zher, bak konghan nurly el” (“Re- expect this holiday with pleasure Guinness World Record-holder By Aigerim Sadykova newed land, blessed country”) at and great joy, as day and night are Kazhimukan Munaitpasov and the expo’s Congress Centre. Nau- equal, winter ends and spring with Baluan Sholak. This year, famous ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s an- ryz was embodied as a boy in the summer begins,” Nazarbayev said. athlete and one of Kazakhstan’s nual Nauryz celebration on March story, a hero who returns warmth, Guests at the so called ethnic 100 New Faces Sergei Tsyrulnikov By Almasbek Zhumadilov of ties between the two nations’ 21 and 22 was as eventful as ever, love and patience stolen from his village were greeted by characters also delighted the crowd by tearing business communities as well as despite this year’s cold, foggy people by dark forces. He discov- from Kazakh folk tales and took apart chains and hammering pins ASTANA – Kazakh President effective bilateral cooperation on weather. ers for them the secret of happi- photos with them. Artists from the with his hands. Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an international and regional issues. Astana residents celebrated ness and prosperity. capital’s theatres showcased na- Spectators also paid great atten- unannounced visit to Uzbeki- Mirziyoyev and Nazarbayev Nauryz for the first time at the site Kazakh President Nursultan tional customs and traditions. There tion to the exhibition of ancient stan’s famous city of Samarkand also visited the Hazret Khizr of last year’s EXPO 2017, visiting Nazarbayev visited the musical was also an exhibition of handmade Kazakh dog breeds, the Tazy and March 21 where he discussed bi- memorial complex and paid ethnic villages erected on the high- and congratulated Kazakhstan’s pottery, felt and jewellery. Tobet. The speed of the Tazy hunt- lateral, regional and internation- tribute to the memory of the first tech campus and participating in people on the traditional new year “This year, the celebration lasts ing dogs – up to 80 kilometers an al issues with Uzbek President President of the Republic of Uz- outdoor activities March 21. holiday. for five days. I have a chance to hour – as well as their hunting Shavkat Mirziyoyev. bekistan Islam Karimov buried The festivities started with the “Nauryz is a holiday of spring, spend weekends with my family. skills amazed the viewers. Kazakh musical “Zhanarghan revival and growth. Historically, we My husband took part in a Kazakh Continued on Page A2 The two leaders praised the there. state of bilateral relations and On the eve of the Nauryz holi- outlined additional development day, common to the peoples of prospects. both countries, the heads of the According to the Akorda press two states visited Samarkand’s service, Nazarbayev noted the cultural and historical sights. positive effects the country’s bi- Mirziyoev visited Astana Central Asian leaders discuss lateral relations have on trade, March 15 to attend the meeting of economic relations and cultural the leaders of five Central Asian and humanitarian cooperation. nations and personally launch the He also noted increases in bi- Year of Uzbekistan in Kazakh- regional challenges in Astana lateral trade and the promotion stan. traregional trade, ensuring regional in political cooperation between our ism, extremism, drug trafficking, By Aigerim Seisembayeva security and facilitating the rap- countries. We managed to establish transnational organised crime and prochement of peoples. dialogue between our foreign minis- religious radicalism call on us to ASTANA – Leaders of five Cen- The Kazakh President also drew ters. I personally was pleased to see use all mechanisms of effective and tral Asian states met March 15 in attention to Kazakhstan’s relations your foreign ministers at the UN Se- prompt response. Solving these is- Astana in such a format for the first with other Central Asian states, curity Council meeting in New York sues is a priority task for our inter- Construction to begin in time in 10 years to address regional including export relationships, in- [in January]. It was a solid support action, because a change in the situ- challenges, such as borders, water tergovernmental commissions, the for us. That’s what we should al- ation in one country can negatively resource management and regional opening of new border crossings, ways do – support each other,” said affect the situation in the whole re- security. the simplification of passport pro- Nazarbayev. gion,” he said. July on gas pipeline serving The presidents of Kazakhstan, cedures, cooperation in building The Kazakh President also drew Mirziyoyev stressed the impor- Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uz- transportation infrastructure and attention to Kazakhstan’s trade re- tance of developing trade, economic bekistan attended. Turkmenistan cooperation in settling border is- lations with other Central Asian and interstate cooperation in ensur- was represented by its Parliament’s sues. states. ing regional security and stability. Astana, Karaganda, regions Speaker Akja Nurberdyeva and a He also noted that, during the “In 2017, Kazakhstan’s exports “All our joint actions, projects tion for approval. The gasifica- delegation, including the president’s meeting, the leaders agreed that the to each of your countries grew 35 and programmes will undoubtedly By Zhanna Shayakhmetova tion roadmap has already been son Serdar Berdymuhamedov, who delimitation and demarcation of percent. We hold meetings of in- strengthen the spirit of mutual trust approved. chairs the Turkmen Parliament’s borders between the five countries tergovernmental commissions. We and respect and provide specific ASTANA – Construction on “The working group consists Foreign Affairs Committee. is a priority to strengthen security are opening new border crossing content to our close regional coop- the Saryarka gas pipeline, intend- of state bodies and organisations Nazarbayev met on the sidelines and stability in the region. points, simplifying passport con- eration that is fully in line with our ed to bring gas to Kazakhstan’s to work out issues related to the of the gathering with Berdymu- Nazarbayev also outlined the trol procedures, building new roads common interests and is wholly capital and central and north- implementation of the first phase hamedov as well as Kyrgyz Presi- need for Central Asian states to and bridges, settling border issues, supported by our peoples,” he said. ern regions, will be launched in of this project, including the Nurberdyeva read out an address dent Sooronbay Jeenbekov and the strengthen ties with the leading developing transport infrastructure July, Kazakh Minister of Energy terms of financing, by raising and launching new flights and high- from Turkmen President Gurban- Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev. countries bordering the region – Kanat Bozumbayev told a March funds from international finan- The event produced a joint state- Russia and China. speed trains,” he said. guly Berdymuhamedov. 13 government meeting. A cubic cial institutions such as the Eur- ment on the upcoming Nauryz holi- Speaking at the meeting as a Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov also “Cooperation with the closest metre of gas will vary at a level asian Bank for Reconstruction day and a decision to meet in such a host, Nazarbayev applauded his stressed during the meeting the im- neighbours in Central Asia is one of 47-50 tenge (US$0.1-0.2). and Development (EBRD), the format annually. Uzbek counterpart Mirziyoyev for portance of regional cooperation, of the priority aspects of Turkmeni- “We agreed to ensure the de- Eurasian Development Bank, the Nazarbayev also proposed during proposing the idea of holding the saying, “today’s meeting will serve stan’s foreign policy strategy. Our velopment and approval of de- Development Bank of Kazakh- the meeting to establish a mecha- meeting. to renew and intensify our friendly country is committed to the widest sign estimates and the alloca- stan and other organisations,” he nism for five-sided regular consulta- “We can solve all our problems and good-neighbourly relations. It cooperation with the countries of tion of land for the gas pipeline tions between the security councils together. It is symbolic that our will give new impetus to our com- the region, while contributing in said. of Central Asian states, the Kazakh meeting is held on the eve of the mon aspirations aimed at greater every way to the enhancement of construction along the Kyzy- On March 5, Kazakh President leader told a press briefing follow- Nauryz holiday that is common for rapprochement of our countries and an equal

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