4 The Japan Times Monday, DeceMber 16, 2013 Kazakhstan independence day kazakhstan’s dramatic development over two decades Erlan Idrissov growth on the environment. foreign mInIstEr of kazakhstan We are strongly committed to sustainable growth policies. We Located on China’s western bor- also remember that the Soviet der, Kazakhstan is geographical- Union’s disregard for the results ly distant from Japan, but rela- of nuclear testing led to negative tions continue to become closer outcomes. as our bilateral trade grows at a Like Japan, but in a different very healthy rate. our ties are way, we have suffered greatly developing as part of Kazakh- from the effects of nuclear stan’s increasing focus on asia weapons. one of President in response to the rising politi- nazarbayev’s first decrees was cal and economic weight of the to close the nuclear testing site region. at Semipalatinsk where 450 Japan is an important prior- nuclear tests took place over 40 ity for us and we see excellent years, causing suffering to an es- opportunities for the further timated 1.5 million people. Ka- expansion of the relationship, zakhstan then voluntarily gave particularly in the area of the up its massive nuclear arsenal, economy. Japanese technology the world’s fourth largest, and is going to play an important role began to work tirelessly with in the industrial modernization other nations to destroy exist- of Kazakhstan. For example, we ing nuclear weapons and to ban see excellent prospects for using their manufacture. Japanese technologies for en- In 2009, in recognition of Ka- ergy- and water-saving. zakhstan’s contribution to non- before describing our rela- proliferation, the United Nations tions further, it is important to declared aug. 29 — the day we give Japanese readers a flavor shut down Semipalatinsk — In- of Kazakhstan and the dramat- ternational Day against Nuclear ic development that we have Tests. experienced over the past two Kazakhstan is home to over decades. Since we are a relative 130 ethnic groups with dozens of newcomer to the international religions that coexist peacefully, scene, it is hardly surprising a feature of our history but also that people know less about us Multilateral cooperation: Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan a reflection of our commitment and our country compared to Idrissov speaks during the general debate Sept. 27 of the 68th to interethnic and interreligious others. session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. concord. Contemporary view: In a short period of time, the capital of Kazakhstan Astana has become one of the new centers of I often have to point out that Headquarters in New York. embassy of kazakhstan We have continued that tradi- international diplomacy. It hosts summits and major events of a global scale. embassy of kazakhstan we are the largest landlocked tion by convening international country in the world located on economy that is a generator of knowledge economy. congresses of religious leaders in asia to manage the diverse country’s long-term prosperity. ridor linking China with Europe creating an enhanced framework a territory five times the size of stability and growth in central Kazakhstan’s economy is the and working closely with inter- security challenges facing the as the largest landlocked and are part of the project to for cooperation in areas such as France. We have a population of asia. Our commitment to social, largest in central asia and its national organizations. In 2010 region. These threats range from country in the world, we have a build a 8,445-km modern high- peacekeeping and democracy, 17 million people and are rich in political and economic reform growth rate is among the highest we chaired the Organization for proliferation of weapons of mass strong interest in having the best way linking Western China with the economy, intraregional co- natural resources, including oil. has made us a key ally and trade in the world. Thanks to our com- Security and Cooperation in Eu- destruction to separatism, ter- possible access to global mar- Western europe with nearly operation in the central asia We are descended from nomads partner with Europe, the United mitment to the rule of law and rope and hosted this body’s first rorism and extremism, disputes kets, including to our south. The 2,800 km passing through Ka- region and addressing intrare- who controlled a vast area in the States, russia, china, India and political stability, Kazakhstan summit in 11 years in our capi- over water and energy resources, stabilization of Afghanistan and zakhstan. We are at the heart gional disparities. heart of central asia, and this other Asian countries in a strate- has been a magnet for foreign tal, Astana. as well as organized crime, illegal its pursuit of harmonious rela- of efforts to build a new “Silk There has been notable re- experience is at the heart of our gically vital part of the world. investors, attracting more than our chairmanship of the migration, drug trafficking and tions with its neighbors are an road” of trade routes across cent progress in terms of eco- diplomacy. We seek friendship Under the leadership of Presi- $170 billion in foreign direct in- council of Foreign Ministers of others. important part of that process. central asia. new energy links nomic development between and cooperation in all directions dent Nursultan Nazarbayev who vestment since 1993, which is 80 the Organization of Islamic Co- Thanks to our economic suc- So too is the normalization of are being established between Kazakhstan and Japan, and as part of a balanced, multivec- guided Kazakhstan through in- percent of all foreign investment operation in 2011-12 was a vivid cess, we have transformed our- Iran’s relations with the interna- central Asia and China, includ- there is a number of other ob- tor policy. dependence to its position today, in Central Asia. testament of that policy, focused selves from a beneficiary of aid tional community. ing from Kazakhstan. vious synergies between us. It is only 22 years ago that Ka- we have kept to a path of gradual Since independence, our GdP in this case on promoting better to a donor country, offering as- The situation in afghanistan Kazakhstan’s fruitful and pro- Japan’s leadership in the devel- zakhstan became an indepen- reforms, starting with economic per capita has grown sixteen- understanding between predom- sistance to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and its potential consequences ductive relationship with Japan opment and introduction of in- dent country when the political liberalization and moving only to fold from $700 to $12,000. GdP inantly Muslim countries and the afghanistan and famine-stricken for the wider region are the is an excellent example of our novative technologies presents map of eurasia changed over- political modernization once we growth averaged 10 percent per rest of the world. Somalia. clearest reminder that these se- policy of international integra- great opportunities for future night after the dissolution of the had achieved economic stability. year from 1999 to 2007. It grew We have consistently pursued We have also made progress curity problems are real and re- tion. This relationship has also collaboration with Kazakhstan, Soviet Union. From the beginning, we de- 7.5 percent in 2011, 5.8 percent multilateral cooperation. at our toward democracy by holding quire coordinated approaches by delivered significant results in given our commitment to mod- There was little time for re- cided to use our vast natural in 2012 and is on target to reach initiative, new organizations democratic elections, open- countries in its neighborhood to strengthening peace and security ernize our economy and reduce joicing as our newborn country resources to improve the living 6 percent in 2013. have taken shape to foster great- ing the way for free media, and be managed effectively. across the Asia-Pacific region. our dependence on raw materi- experienced the full force of the standards of each and every citi- Kazakhstan was listed 49th er cooperation, including the developing a structure for mul- While asia has enormous Japan is one of Kazakhstan’s als exports. our economy will breakdown of the Soviet eco- zen. Revenues from oil produc- in the World Bank/IFc’s “doing 24-country Conference on Inter- tiple political parties to work human and natural resources key strategic partners in Asia. We only be able to develop with nomic system. Within months, tion, for example, have benefited business 2013” report that com- action and Confidence-building actively in our national and lo- that have made it a powerhouse have worked together closely on strong investment in the best 40 percent of the population was all of our 17 million citizens. Ed- pares regulation for domestic Measures in asia. The security- cal legislatures. We are commit- of economic growth in recent a multilateral basis in many in- technologies. Tokyo is also a living below the poverty line and ucation and social welfare have companies across 185 econo- building initiative brings to- ted to developing a competitive decades, we see it marked by ternational organizations such as global financial center, and Ka- inflation reached almost 3,000 always been top priorities and, mies. In the World economic gether 24 countries, accounting multiparty system as foreseen stark contradictions: dynamic the U.n., IAEA, IMF, World Bank zakhstan is ready and eager to percent. since 1994, average income per Forum’s latest annual report on for over 90 percent of the terri- by our Constitution. We have a economic development is often and Asian Development Bank. learn from Tokyo’s success in at the time, some external capita has increased twelvefold. global competitiveness pub- tory of Asia and 3 billion people.