Press Release

Visit of President of Republic of Kazakhstan to India

14/01/2009

1. At the invitation of the President, His Excellency Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Republic of Kazakhstan is scheduled to pay a State Visit to India from 23rd to 26th January 2008. He will be the Guest of Honour at the Republic Day Parade. This will be the first time that a leader from the Central Asian region will be gracing Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest.

2. His Excellency President of Republic of Kazakhstan will be accompanied by a high level official delegation including Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mr Marat Tazhin, and a business delegation representing various sectors.

3. During the visit, His Excellency Nursultan Nazarbayev will call on the President of India who will host a State Banquet in his honour on 24th January at Rashtrapati Bhavan. His Excellency the President of Kazakhstan will hold delegation level talks with the Prime Minister. The Vice President, External Affairs Minister and other senior political leaders will call on President Nazarbayev.

4. India and Kazakhstan enjoy warm and friendly multi-faceted relations which are based on common historical and cultural linkages and have made substantial progress in expanding and deepening cooperation in diverse areas including political, trade, economic, defence, science & technology, culture and education. During the visit of President Nazarbayev, a number of Agreements are expected to be signed. The visit will further consolidate and provide fresh impetus to the bilateral relations.

5. This will be the fourth visit of President Nazarbayev to India, earlier ones being in 1992, 1996 and 2002.

New Delhi
January 14, 2009