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July 2000 Issue 80 |
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July 2000 Issue 80 |
CONTENTS
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A Matter of Respect July 6 will probably be an ordinary day for most people, but for
Kazakhstanis, it will be a big day. President Nursultan Nazarbayev 60th birthday falls on
that day. 'Our president's birthday is also very important to me. Not only because we are good friends, but because he is a capable and wise man. He is important to the people of Kazakhstan," said Kuanysh Sultanov, who has been Kazakhstan? ambassador to China for five years. A young country, Kazakhstan has undergone many hardships and has overcome many difficulties since becoming independent in 1991. Per capita income was about US$200 in 1991, but is now in excess of US$10,000. Our gross domestic product increased by 9 percent from January to May this year. Sultanov attributes these successes to the leadership of Nazarbayev. "I will send a letter to congratulate him on his birthday. My letter and a story about him and Kazaskhstan in Beijing will be the best gifts for him,* Sultanov said, resident Nazarbayev attaches great importance to the development of the Sino-Kazakhstan relationship.* The ambassador is proud of his pictures of the president and his wife
taken during Nazarbayev? third visit to Beijing in November 1999.
He is also happy with the fact that the Chinese version of the fifth book written by
Nazarbayev was published in China and launched on June 16. His fruitful visit to China resulted in a number of important agreements, including the one to permanently solve boundary problems left over from the Soviet age. Nazarbayev also awarded the old Eagle* medal to Chinese President Jiang
Zemin. Jiang is one of only four world leaders to receive the award for their
contributions to building bilateral relations. The others were former Russian President
Boris Yeltsin, Ozbekstan President Karimov and Ukraine President Kuchma. Sultanov has cooperated with President Nazarbayev for more than 20 years through the good and not-so-good early moments of Kazakhstan independent political life. "The beginning of the 1990s was my most unforgettable time to work with Nazarbayev. Before independence, we established the People United Party to advocate democracy. After he became president, after our independence, we had hard times in coping with all kinds of social, political, economic and governmental problems,* Sultanov said. "The visit last year was very important, it
was regarded as an Ambassador Sultanov cited several things he thinks will help promote the two countries* relations and cultural exchanges. First is the publication of Nazarbayev book. In addition, the Kazakhstan national theater choir is touring Southern China, giving performances and is expected to perform in Beijing at the end of June. A Xian Xinghai Week will be held in Kazakhstan to promote the famous Chinese composer Xian Xinghai, who lived in Kazakhstan during the 1940s. In China he will host a azakhstan Week* to help more people understand China. Landmarks in Sino-Kazakhstan Relations The earliest links between China and Kazakhstan began more than 2,000 years ago, when a Western Han Dynasty (206-25 B.C.) emperor sent his daughter to marry a Kazakhstani prince. Chinese silk was transported to Kazakhstan during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) via the Silk Road. In the summer of 1756, the famous Qing Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) received a messenger from Kazakhstan at the Chengde Summer Resort. Busy trade continued until the end of 19th century when Kazakhstan was involved in a war with Russia and was occupied. Then it became a republic of the former USSR. The relationship between Kazakhstan and China resumed on Jan. 3, 1992 after Kazakhstan independence in 1991. Kazakhstan: Fast Facts Area: 2.7 million square kilometers Population density: 6.2 persons per square kilometer Bordering entities: Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea. Independence Day: December 16, 1991 Population: 15.5 million, 55 percent urban, 45 percent rural Nationalities: More than 100 nationalities are represented in Kazakhstan. The main ethnic groups are Kazakhs (more than 50 percent) and Russians (more than 30 percent). Others include Ukrainians, Germans, Tartars, Uzbeks, Belorussians, Azerbaijanis and Koreans. The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan guarantees equal rights and freedoms to all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, social, property or official positions, residences or religions. State language: The Kazakh language. In state institutions and local self-administrative bodies, the Russian language is also officially used, on a par with the Kazakh language. In regions where particular ethnic groups are concentrated, education and business correspondence in their native language is also allowed. National currency: tenge Political system: According to the Constitution, approved in 1995, Kazakhstan is a secular, democratic, legal and social state. It declared the principle of the state? unity with a presidential form of government. The president is the the head of state, the highest official. The president is elected for five years by universal, equal and direct voting. In 1991 Nursultan Nazarbayev was thus elected as president of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1995, Presdient Nazarbayev term was extended by national referendum until December 2000. Parliament: The highest representative body of the country is the Parliament. The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Majilis, both of which act on a permanent basis. Judicial System: The judicial system of Kazakhstan is established by the Consitution. The Supreme Court of Kazakhstan is the highest judicial body on civil, criminal and other cases. The Constitution of the State includes the formation of the Highest Judicial Council which is headed by the president. Administrative Divisions: The Republic of Kazakhstan is now divided into 14 oblasts (regions). Two cities, Almaty and Baikonur, are considered special cities of Republican importance. Since December 10, 1997, Astana, has been the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Tourist resources: There are 27,000 ancient historical monuments in the Republic. These unique architectural monuments include the Babazi Hatun Mausoleum (11th century), the Karakhan Mausoleum (11th century), the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum (11th-12th centuries), the Alasha Khan Mausoleum (12th century), the Djuchi Man Mausoleum. Many visitors go to Kazakhstan, especially to visit the national Museum ?zret Sultan* in the city of Turkestan, with its spectacular monument of medieval architecture, the mausoleum and mosque of the great medieval Sufi poet Hodja Ahmet Jassawi. |
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Capital Talk
trans-century summit meeting that helped build a
base for relations in the new century,* Sultanov said.